The Blessing of Persecution

August 18

(Acts 16:40 NIV) “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.”

(Matthew 5:10-12 NIV) “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. {12} Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

(John 15:18-21 NIV)  ""If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. {19} If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. {20} Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. {21} They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me."

When Paul and Silas got out of prison, they went back to Lydia’s house for some renewal and rest. They met with the new believers there, and then headed out again to share the gospel in another place. Paul and Silas traveled a road that few are willing to travel. Instead of being thwarted by persecution, they were motivated. Persecution does a strange thing to a committed believer. Instead of silencing us, it often ends up strengthening us. If we are active enough to receive persecution, and we endure it with grace, it often gives us a greater platform from which to share the gospel. If you are undergoing persecution in some form, remember this story. Endure it with grace. Live with hope in your heart. Stand strong and humbly praise God. If you do that, your Jesus star will rise and be seen by more people than ever, and God’s kingdom will grow because of your faithfulness. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

So That Some Might Be Saved

August 17

(Acts 16:14 NIV) “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message.”

(Acts 16:16-18 NIV) ““Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. {17} This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." {18} She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.””

(Acts 16:29-33 NIV) ““The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. {30} He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. {33} At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.””

(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. {14} But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

(1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NIV) “Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. {20} To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. {21} To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. {22} To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. {23} I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

When Paul and Silas went down to the river and met Lydia, she responded to the gospel. Others were there and heard, but we have no record that anyone else was saved. When Paul and Silas delivered the slave girl from demonic spirits, there were many witnesses. But not everyone who saw the miracle was converted. When Paul and Silas led the Roman jailer to Christ, there were others who heard the truth. But not everyone at the jail became a believer. Even though God so loves the world and Jesus died for the sins of the world, not everyone in the world will be saved. Jesus said the road is narrow and only a few will find it. Paul recognized that even with the best of preaching, “by all possible means”, only “some” would be saved. Be faithful in sharing the gospel, but do not be discouraged when only a few respond. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

ACTS: Admit, Commit, Transmit, Submit

August 16

(Acts 16:25 NIV) “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

(Acts 16:29-34 NIV) ““The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. {30} He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" {31} They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." {32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. {33} At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. {34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family.””

(Matthew 7:20-21 NIV) ““Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. {21} "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.””

The conversion of the Roman jailer provides a template for evangelism. First we must ADMIT. The jailer admitted his need for a Savior. The second step is to COMMIT. The jailer was called to “believe in the Lord Jesus.” This was a commitment to follow Christ as Lord -- to be His disciple. The third step is to SUBMIT. The jailer was baptized in obedience to Christ and began to minister to Paul and Silas. Conversion brings life change as we submit to Christ’s call to serve. “By their fruit you will know them.” The fourth component in evangelism is to TRANSMIT. Paul and Silas “spoke the word of the Lord to him.” They had first transmitted the gospel with the fruit of joy displayed in jail, then later, with words of truth. They reflected the Way and the Truth well, and thus were believed when they spoke the truth about the way. Admit, Commit, Submit, Transmit -- one template for evangelism. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Praise Quotient

August 15

(Acts 16:25 NIV) "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."

(Hebrews 13:15 NIV) "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name."

(Psalms 34:1-4 NIV) "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. {2} My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. {3} Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. {4} I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."

Acts 16:25 is an astounding verse. After Paul and Silas were beaten and confined to a jail cell, they had a worship service. There was no bitter complaining about the injustice -- just praise to God in such a public way that others around them could hear it. They responded to a life that is unfair, by giving glory to God. They didn’t question God’s goodness -- they praised God’s greatness. They thanked God for a demon cast out, for souls saved, and for a new church plant. They had surrendered their lives to the glory of God. How are you doing at this? What was your praise quotient last week? Our praise quotient is the number of times we praise God, divided by the number of times we complain about God -- the bigger the number the better. Raise your quotient. Praise more and complain less. You’ll be noticed by those around you, and some will be drawn to the One you praise. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day