O. Addison Gethers e-mail address [email protected] [email protected]
twitter URL http//:twitter.com/OAddisonGethers Messenger contact window live/msn messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS rs ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> To: "Donnie Parrett" <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:59 PM Subject: Daily Bible Reading For Thursday November 12 > Day 316 > > Acts 13 > Barnabas, Saul, and Doctor Know-It-All > 1-2The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of > prophet-preachers and teachers: > > Barnabas, > Simon, nicknamed Niger, > Lucius the Cyrenian, > Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod, > Saul. > One day as they were worshiping God-they were also fasting as they waited > for guidance-the Holy > Spirit spoke: "Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I > have called them to do." > 3So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of > fasting and praying, they > laid hands on their heads and sent them off. > > 4-5Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul > went down to Seleucia and > caught a ship for Cyprus. The first thing they did when they put in at > Salamis was preach God's Word > in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed. > > 6-7They traveled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a > Jewish wizard who had worked > himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an > intelligent man not easily taken in > by charlatans. The wizard's name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a > corkscrew. > > 7-11The governor invited Barnabas and Saul in, wanting to hear God's Word > firsthand from them. But > Dr. Know-It-All (that's the wizard's name in plain English) stirred up a > ruckus, trying to divert > the governor from becoming a believer. But Saul (or Paul), full of the > Holy Spirit and looking him > straight in the eye, said, "You bag of wind, you parody of a devil-why, > you stay up nights inventing > schemes to cheat people out of God. But now you've come up against God > himself, and your game is up. > You're about to go blind-no sunlight for you for a good long stretch." He > was plunged immediately > into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand > and show him the way. > > 12When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of > enthusiasm over what they were > saying about the Master. > > Don't Take This Lightly > 13-14From Paphos, Paul and company put out to sea, sailing on to Perga in > Pamphylia. That's where > John called it quits and went back to Jerusalem. From Perga the rest of > them traveled on to Antioch > in Pisidia. > 14-15On the Sabbath they went to the meeting place and took their places. > After the reading of the > Scriptures-God's Law and the Prophets-the president of the meeting asked > them, "Friends, do you have > anything you want to say? A word of encouragement, perhaps?" > > 16-20Paul stood up, paused and took a deep breath, then said, "Fellow > Israelites and friends of > God, listen. God took a special interest in our ancestors, pulled our > people who were beaten down in > Egyptian exile to their feet, and led them out of there in grand style. He > took good care of them > for nearly forty years in that godforsaken wilderness and then, having > wiped out seven enemies who > stood in the way, gave them the land of Canaan for their very own-a span > in all of about 450 years. > > 20-22"Up to the time of Samuel the prophet, God provided judges to lead > them. But then they asked > for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, out of the tribe of > Benjamin. After Saul had ruled > forty years, God removed him from office and put King David in his place, > with this commendation: > 'I've searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He's a man > whose heart beats to my > heart, a man who will do what I tell him.' > > 23-25"From out of David's descendants God produced a Savior for Israel, > Jesus, exactly as he > promised-but only after John had thoroughly alerted the people to his > arrival by preparing them for > a total life-change. As John was finishing up his work, he said, 'Did you > think I was the One? No, > I'm not the One. But the One you've been waiting for all these years is > just around the corner, > about to appear. And I'm about to disappear.' > > 26-29"Dear brothers and sisters, children of Abraham, and friends of God, > this message of salvation > has been precisely targeted to you. The citizens and rulers in Jerusalem > didn't recognize who he was > and condemned him to death. They couldn't find a good reason, but demanded > that Pilate execute him > anyway. They did just what the prophets said they would do, but had no > idea they were following to > the letter the script of the prophets, even though those same prophets are > read every Sabbath in > their meeting places. > > 29-31"After they had done everything the prophets said they would do, they > took him down from the > cross and buried him. And then God raised him from death. There is no > disputing that-he appeared > over and over again many times and places to those who had known him well > in the Galilean years, and > these same people continue to give witness that he is alive. > > 32-35"And we're here today bringing you good news: the Message that what > God promised the fathers > has come true for the children-for us! He raised Jesus, exactly as > described in the second Psalm: > > My Son! My very own Son! > Today I celebrate you! > "When he raised him from the dead, he did it for good-no going back to > that rot and decay for him. > That's why Isaiah said, 'I'll give to all of you David's guaranteed > blessings.' So also the > psalmist's prayer: 'You'll never let your Holy One see death's rot and > decay.' > > 36-39"David, of course, having completed the work God set out for him, has > been in the grave, dust > and ashes, a long time now. But the One God raised up-no dust and ashes > for him! I want you to know, > my very dear friends, that it is on account of this resurrected Jesus that > the forgiveness of your > sins can be promised. He accomplishes, in those who believe, everything > that the Law of Moses could > never make good on. But everyone who believes in this raised-up Jesus is > declared good and right and > whole before God. > > 40-41"Don't take this lightly. You don't want the prophet's sermon to > describe you: > > Watch out, cynics; > Look hard-watch your world fall to pieces. > I'm doing something right before your eyes > That you won't believe, though it's staring you in the face." > > 42-43When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to > preach again the next > Sabbath. As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism > went along with Paul and > Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they'd > started, this living in and > by God's grace. > > 44-45When the next Sabbath came around, practically the whole city showed > up to hear the Word of > God. Some of the Jews, seeing the crowds, went wild with jealousy and tore > into Paul, contradicting > everything he was saying, making an ugly scene. > > 46-47But Paul and Barnabas didn't back down. Standing their ground they > said, "It was required that > God's Word be spoken first of all to you, the Jews. But seeing that you > want no part of it-you've > made it quite clear that you have no taste or inclination for eternal > life-the door is open to all > the outsiders. And we're on our way through it, following orders, doing > what God commanded when he > said, > > I've set you up > as light to all nations. > You'll proclaim salvation > to the four winds and seven seas!" > > 48-49When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe > their good fortune. All > who were marked out for real life put their trust in God-they honored > God's Word by receiving that > life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the > region. > > 50-52Some of the Jews convinced the most respected women and leading men > of the town that their > precious way of life was about to be destroyed. Alarmed, they turned on > Paul and Barnabas and forced > them to leave. Paul and Barnabas shrugged their shoulders and went on to > the next town, Iconium, > brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples. > > Acts 14 > 1-3 When they got to Iconium they went, as they always did, to the meeting > place of the Jews and > gave their message. The Message convinced both Jews and non-Jews-and not > just a few, either. But the > unbelieving Jews worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and > Barnabas, sowing mistrust and > suspicion in the minds of the people in the street. The two apostles were > there a long time, > speaking freely, openly, and confidently as they presented the clear > evidence of God's gifts, God > corroborating their work with miracles and wonders. > 4-7But then there was a split in public opinion, some siding with the > Jews, some with the apostles. > One day, learning that both the Jews and non-Jews had been organized by > their leaders to beat them > up, they escaped as best they could to the next towns-Lyconia, Lystra, > Derbe, and that > neighborhood-but then were right back at it again, getting out the > Message. > > Gods or Men? > 8-10There was a man in Lystra who couldn't walk. He sat there, crippled > since the day of his birth. > He heard Paul talking, and Paul, looking him in the eye, saw that he was > ripe for God's work, ready > to believe. So he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Up on your > feet!" The man was up in a > flash-jumped up and walked around as if he'd been walking all his life. > 11-13When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they went wild, calling out in > their Lyconian dialect, > "The gods have come down! These men are gods!" They called Barnabas "Zeus" > and Paul "Hermes" (since > Paul did most of the speaking). The priest of the local Zeus shrine got up > a parade-bulls and > banners and people lined right up to the gates, ready for the ritual of > sacrifice. > > 14-15When Barnabas and Paul finally realized what was going on, they > stopped them. Waving their > arms, they interrupted the parade, calling out, "What do you think you're > doing! We're not gods! We > are men just like you, and we're here to bring you the Message, to > persuade you to abandon these > silly god-superstitions and embrace God himself, the living God. We don't > make God; he makes us, and > all of this-sky, earth, sea, and everything in them. > > 16-18"In the generations before us, God let all the different nations go > their own way. But even > then he didn't leave them without a clue, for he made a good creation, > poured down rain and gave > bumper crops. When your bellies were full and your hearts happy, there was > evidence of good beyond > your doing." Talking fast and hard like this, they prevented them from > carrying out the sacrifice > that would have honored them as gods-but just barely. > > 19-20Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium caught up with them and > turned the fickle crowd > against them. They beat Paul unconscious, dragged him outside the town and > left him for dead. But as > the disciples gathered around him, he came to and got up. He went back > into town and the next day > left with Barnabas for Derbe. > > Plenty of Hard Times > 21-22After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core > of disciples, they > retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting > muscle and sinew in the > lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to > believe and not quit, > making it clear to them that it wouldn't be easy: "Anyone signing up for > the kingdom of God has to > go through plenty of hard times." > 23-26Paul and Barnabas handpicked leaders in each church. After praying- > their prayers intensified > by fasting-they presented these new leaders to the Master to whom they had > entrusted their lives. > Working their way back through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia and > preached in Perga. Finally, they > made it to Attalia and caught a ship back to Antioch, where it had all > started-launched by God's > grace and now safely home by God's grace. A good piece of work. > > 27-28On arrival, they got the church together and reported on their trip, > telling in detail how God > had used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all > nations could come streaming in. > Then they settled down for a long, leisurely visit with the disciples. > > Acts 15 > To Let Outsiders Inside > 1-2 It wasn't long before some Jews showed up from Judea insisting that > everyone be circumcised: > "If you're not circumcised in the Mosaic fashion, you can't be saved." > Paul and Barnabas were up on > their feet at once in fierce protest. The church decided to resolve the > matter by sending Paul, > Barnabas, and a few others to put it before the apostles and leaders in > Jerusalem. > 3After they were sent off and on their way, they told everyone they met as > they traveled through > Phoenicia and Samaria about the breakthrough to the non-Jewish outsiders. > Everyone who heard the > news cheered-it was terrific news! > > 4-5When they got to Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas were graciously received > by the whole church, > including the apostles and leaders. They reported on their recent journey > and how God had used them > to open things up to the outsiders. Some Pharisees stood up to say their > piece. They had become > believers, but continued to hold to the hard party line of the Pharisees. > "You have to circumcise > the pagan converts," they said. "You must make them keep the Law of > Moses." > > 6-9The apostles and leaders called a special meeting to consider the > matter. The arguments went on > and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated. Then Peter took the > floor: "Friends, you well > know that from early on God made it quite plain that he wanted the pagans > to hear the Message of > this good news and embrace it-and not in any secondhand or roundabout way, > but firsthand, straight > from my mouth. And God, who can't be fooled by any pretense on our part > but always knows a person's > thoughts, gave them the Holy Spirit exactly as he gave him to us. He > treated the outsiders exactly > as he treated us, beginning at the very center of who they were and > working from that center > outward, cleaning up their lives as they trusted and believed him. > > 10-11"So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new > believers down with rules that > crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don't we believe that we are > saved because the Master > Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he > did those from beyond our > nation? So what are we arguing about?" > > 12-13There was dead silence. No one said a word. With the room quiet, > Barnabas and Paul reported > matter-of-factly on the miracles and wonders God had done among the other > nations through their > ministry. The silence deepened; you could hear a pin drop. > > 13-18James broke the silence. "Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the > story of how God at the very > outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect > agreement with the words of > the prophets: > > After this, I'm coming back; > I'll rebuild David's ruined house; > I'll put all the pieces together again; > I'll make it look like new > So outsiders who seek will find, > so they'll have a place to come to, > All the pagan peoples > included in what I'm doing. > "God said it and now he's doing it. It's no afterthought; he's always > known he would do this. > > 19-21"So here is my decision: We're not going to unnecessarily burden > non-Jewish people who turn to > the Master. We'll write them a letter and tell them, 'Be careful to not > get involved in activities > connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not > serve food offensive to > Jewish Christians-blood, for instance.' This is basic wisdom from Moses, > preached and honored for > centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath." > > 22-23Everyone agreed: apostles, leaders, all the people. They picked Judas > (nicknamed Barsabbas) > and Silas-they both carried considerable weight in the church-and sent > them to Antioch with Paul and > Barnabas with this letter: > > From the apostles and leaders, your friends, to our friends in Antioch, > Syria, and Cilicia: > > Hello! 24-27We heard that some men from our church went to you and said > things that confused and > upset you. Mind you, they had no authority from us; we didn't send them. > We have agreed unanimously > to pick representatives and send them to you with our good friends > Barnabas and Paul. We picked men > we knew you could trust, Judas and Silas-they've looked death in the face > time and again for the > sake of our Master Jesus Christ. We've sent them to confirm in a > face-to-face meeting with you what > we've written. 28-29It seemed to the Holy Spirit and to us that you should > not be saddled with any > crushing burden, but be responsible only for these bare necessities: Be > careful not to get involved > in activities connected with idols; avoid serving food offensive to Jewish > Christians (blood, for > instance); and guard the morality of sex and marriage. These guidelines > are sufficient to keep > relations congenial between us. And God be with you! Barnabas and Paul Go > Their Separate Ways > > 30-33And so off they went to Antioch. On arrival, they gathered the church > and read the letter. The > people were greatly relieved and pleased. Judas and Silas, good preachers > both of them, strengthened > their new friends with many words of courage and hope. Then it was time to > go home. They were sent > off by their new friends with laughter and embraces all around to report > back to those who had sent > them. > > 35Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word > of God. But they weren't > alone. There were a number of teachers and preachers at that time in > Antioch. > > 36After a few days of this, Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and > visit all our friends in each > of the towns where we preached the Word of God. Let's see how they're > doing." > > 37-41Barnabas wanted to take John along, the John nicknamed Mark. But Paul > wouldn't have him; he > wasn't about to take along a quitter who, as soon as the going got tough, > had jumped ship on them in > Pamphylia. Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways: > Barnabas took Mark and > sailed for Cyprus; Paul chose Silas and, offered up by their friends to > the grace of the Master, > went to Syria and Cilicia to build up muscle and sinew in those > congregations. > > > > > > > > ~~~~~ > Please join us on Skype Monday thru Friday at 8:00 EST for our Morning > Skype Prayer Time. > Also, follow my tweets on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/Donnie1261 > > > Contact Me At: > Donnie Parrett > 1956 Asa Flat Road > Annville, Kentucky 40402 > Home Phone: 606-364-3321 > Church Phone: 606-364-PRAY > Skype Name: Donnie1261 > Email: [email protected] > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/dbilg?hl=.
