The eighth chapter of the book Acts is a very powerful depiction of faith under fire. This passage shows us that even while the early church was faced with trials and major persecution; it didn’t stop them from sharing their faith. Many times we don’t realize just how freeing it can be to share our faith with others even when we are going through our own difficulties.
Take a look at your own life. Are you currently going through a tough period? The type that takes up all of your time, and wears you down in such a way that you feel there’s nothing left in the tank? If you are in a personal battle, let Acts chapter 8 be a reminder that the fiery trial should not silence our faith.
During these early days of reclaiming territory, I want to challenge you to not settle for taking back only material things. Try to include sharing your faith with your family and friends. Take a look at these questions as part of your daily routine.
1. Have you written down the names of family and friends whom you would love to see come into the kingdom?
2. What relationships are you forming on purpose so that you can ultimately share you faith with them?
3. Are your days so crowded that you have no time to reach out?
Remember Acts chapter 8, that through great crisis, Phillip still went after others and evangelism won out! May you be inspired today, to reclaim your evangelistic voice and start you own fire.
I like that suggestion at the end and have to implement it myself. Physically write down the names of family members and find ways to connect with them. I would also like to add during our prayer time to pray for them in advance so that when our attempts to connect go into play, the Holy Spirit could already be working something behind the scenes. Great Advice Pastor.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at your own life. Are you currently going through a tough period? The type that takes up all of your time, and wears you down in such a way that you feel there’s nothing left in the tank?
ReplyDeleteSince this 40 day Journey has began, the Holy Spirit has reminded and convicted me about finding more time for God. I must admit that sometimes the time that I set aside for God time is more ritualistic rather than authentic. Since I am a single mother of a school-aged child, and a full-time employee and college student, I often feel rushed and unfocused. I am also dissatisfied at times with the inadequacy and infrequency of my prayer life. But God always has a way of calling my attention and focus back to Him. And so here we are, going through 40 days of fasting and prayer. Since I have been purposeful in this, the Holy Spirit has highlighted my thinking about God and how He wants me to live my life. Ephesians 6:18 in the Message says “Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out” After reading this one day, I had to repent for how insignificant I made prayer in my life. Prayer is not only my point of contact with God, it is where I find my strength to be able to protect and attack. My love life with the Lord is the most important thing to me, and therefore worth fighting for. So over the remainder of these 40 days, I am being encouraged by the Holy Spirit to continue go after God. It will be a fight, but through this spiritual warfare, I can prevail by equipping myself with His armor, and fighting the enemy with prayer. Be encouraged all!!
Hello Pastor Terry
ReplyDeleteMy wife told me about the blog. I read the blog and I liked what you had to say. I look at my life every day and thank God for the life he has given me. I go through struggles on a daily basis working with teenagers and try to teach them there is a better way but since they took God and prayer out of school we have to find more creative ways to witness to the youth. Do you have any suggestions?
What type of 40 day journey can I implement working with these kids?
Thanks for listening
At first the only thing the Holy Spirit showed me that I had allowed our enemy to steal from me was my enjoyment and passion for reading the Word of God. It had somehow become boring of sorts to me. But as I have struggled to read every day, there has been a fanning of that tiny flicker of a flame that was there. This morning I kissed my Bible with such passion it astounded even me!!
ReplyDeleteI have not looked at any material things to take back, because the Holy Spirit keeps telling me every day, "Seek first the kingdom and of God and all the other stuff He will give to me."
I have been talking more to the drug dealers and users in my neighborhood, looking for the opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ with them. Sunday in church as people flowed to the front of the sanctuary, I saw in a vision, several of the young men walking down the isle toward Pastor Terry to give their lives to Christ.
During this 40 Day Journey my faith is being restored and the Holy Spirit is guiding me in all the right directions. Now I am using the word for more then just Sunday at church and by doing that, my Mom came to church and I was so thankful. God gave me the word to say to her in her time of need and it brought her closer to God. I asked her to come to church before but my words didn’t work, but when I gave her the Word it showed her the way. Glory to God
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