April 28, 2013
DEVOTIONAL: 2 Timothy 4:16-18
"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me until his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Every one of us has a great work to do. "What could you accomplish for God, knowing He has your back"*
*Reflection- Daily Devotionals- Church Growth- Extension- Acts 15-28- S.S. 2013
SUNDAY SCHOOL: Acts 23, previous Sunday (April 21), Acts 22
Chapters 22 and 23 show us how Paul reacted when "he was falsely accused of bringing a Gentile into the Temple"**- Acts 21:29
In Acts 22 we see Paul defending himself by giving his testimony. (In my opinion, your testimony is the most witness you can have.)
In Acts 23 we see that the unfavorable reaction of the mob to Paul's witness lead him to being brought before the Sanhedrin- a Council comprised of Pharisees and Sadducees- where Paul believed that by telling the truth they would see he was innocent of the charges brought against him.
Appealing to their better nature might would have worked had the men he was appealing to not already decided he was guilty.
Changing tactics Paul began to "divide and conquer", pitting the beliefs of the Pharisees against those of the Sadducees. Having been a Pharisee himself, Paul declared he was being targeted for his belief in the ressurection of Jesus- an event the Sadducees refused to give consideration to.
This statement turned the "accusation against him into a matter of doctorine and not personalities"**.
It was this dissension between the Council that allowed Paul to live and in turn added more momentum to the chain of events that would bring Paul to Rome- putting his "issue" before the Roman governor in Caesarea.
As a side note: Due to being a Roman citizen the fact that his very life was in danger, Paul was escorted, under the cover of night from Jerusalem by 470 troops!!!
** Adult Quarterly/ Adult Lesson Commentary- Church Growth, etc.
HYMNS: There Is A Name I Love To Hear
Each Step I Take
Thank You, Lord
PRAYER REQUESTS: Military, Government, Schools, Medical Issues
PRAISE REPORTS- Healing
SERMON: Ezra 9:5-8
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We all need reviving in our "bondage", a release from the problems in our lives. As a society we have been cultured to show no pain. Yet as we go through the Bible, we find many men, including Jesus, who had openly broken down and wept.
A constant growth process- it is easier said than done to "give it to God". As a human- whose earthly body is full of sin and imperfection we can give the idea of our problems to God, yet their essence still remains- swirling round and round in our heads, driving us crazy, popping up at the most inopportune times to kick us in the rear. Luckily we had God- a person who is always there to take what we have to give, no matter how many times we have to give it.
What are you going to lay at the alter of God today? What burdens do you need to give to God and ask for his reviving?
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