February 12-Meditating on God’s Word
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 4:1-7, The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, the lame man was healed! It caused quite a stir among the people and now we see it has reached the attention of the religious leaders. They were in a tizzy because You were being proclaimed as having resurrected. Instead of joyfully celebrating the faith of resurrection, they were fearful and tried to shut this message down by putting Your top two apostles in jail. But that didn’t stop Your word. Another 2,000 believed! Your church was rapidly growing. The highest standing religious authorities tried to stop Your supernatural work. After seeing how believers are everywhere around the world, numbering two billion strong, it’s laughable that they tried to squash the message. Nothing can stop the authority of the powerful and majestic name of Jesus! May Your name be praised and glorified forevermore! Amen.”
February 13-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:1-2, The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Observe what it is saying.
Let’s remember the progression of events. A lame man was healed. He went into the temple courts jumping and praising God. A crowd gathered to see the miracle. Peter and John took the opportunity to tell that Jesus is the one who did this. Now, we have a group of religious leaders and temple police who have arrived because they heard the news and are troubled that resurrection is the topic of conversation. The same attention Jesus received by the same groups of people is now experienced by the apostles. Jesus is still present and working through them!
Relate it to your life.
If Jesus is in me, I should expect to receive the same kind of treatment He did.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, lead, speak, and serve through me so that I can be Your powerful witness. Amen.”
February 14-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:3, They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
Observe what it is saying.
The religious leaders had tremendous power. They could jail people for whatever reason they chose. Just as Jesus faced it, here, we find opposition to the apostle’s ministry had begun. Once again, Satan was using the religious elite to do his dirty work. Paul’s words come to mind of this hidden battle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) The apostles’ proclamation of the superior spiritual power of Jesus’ resurrection unleashed the darkness of the unseen world upon them.
Relate it to your life.
Proclaiming the supernatural work of the Lord will stir up the enemy.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me courage to be bold in my witness regardless of the enemy’s response. Amen.”
February 15-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:4, But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Observe what it is saying.
In contrast to Peter and John being put in jail to silence them, we see the results of their Holy Spirit-filled message. Man may try to stop the spread of the Word, but nothing can hinder it. Isaiah said it this way, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11) Because God’s word is such a powerful force, the church exploded into being.
Relate it to your life.
The message of the word of God will not be thwarted.
Do something.
“Jesus, thank You for this great promise that nothing can stop Your word from accomplishing Your will. Amen.”
February 16-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:5-6, The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.
Observe what it is saying.
The all-star cast of religious leaders gathered, just as they had when Jesus was arrested, to discuss what they were going to do about Peter and John. They were speaking the revolutionary message of resurrection. It wasn’t a revolution to overthrow an earthly government, but what they didn’t know, it was a revolution to overthrow the power and authority of the devil’s unseen world. What these religious leaders didn’t know was that they were being used as pawns by the underworld and that’s why they felt so fearful and threatened with the power they might lose.
Relate it to your life.
The message of resurrection is revolutionary for all who are associated with Satan’s realm.
Do something.
“Jesus, use the revolutionary message of resurrection to break every evil stronghold. Amen.”
February 17-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:7, They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Observe what it is saying.
The questioning was focused on the authority that gave them the power to do this. Since Jesus’ resurrection, this is the first specific miracle recorded. The forty days before His ascension Jesus gave much evidence that He was alive, but we are not told of any specific miracles that were performed. So, these religious leaders had two concerns. 1. The message of resurrection was being preached. 2. The authority that was behind this miraculous healing. From our vantage point, we would think it would have been clear that it was Jesus. Since they were involved in a coverup to dismiss Jesus’ resurrection, they didn’t want His name to be used and were clueless to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit carrying on Jesus’ works.
Relate it to your life.
There’s no greater authority than Jesus’ name.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, may Your name be elevated and proclaimed as the name above all names. Amen.”
Here is the passage for the week:
Acts 4:1-7, The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Praying the Word: “Lord Jesus, the lame man was healed! It caused quite a stir among the people and now we see it has reached the attention of the religious leaders. They were in a tizzy because You were being proclaimed as having resurrected. Instead of joyfully celebrating the faith of resurrection, they were fearful and tried to shut this message down by putting Your top two apostles in jail. But that didn’t stop Your word. Another 2,000 believed! Your church was rapidly growing. The highest standing religious authorities tried to stop Your supernatural work. After seeing how believers are everywhere around the world, numbering two billion strong, it’s laughable that they tried to squash the message. Nothing can stop the authority of the powerful and majestic name of Jesus! May Your name be praised and glorified forevermore! Amen.”
February 13-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:1-2, The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Observe what it is saying.
Let’s remember the progression of events. A lame man was healed. He went into the temple courts jumping and praising God. A crowd gathered to see the miracle. Peter and John took the opportunity to tell that Jesus is the one who did this. Now, we have a group of religious leaders and temple police who have arrived because they heard the news and are troubled that resurrection is the topic of conversation. The same attention Jesus received by the same groups of people is now experienced by the apostles. Jesus is still present and working through them!
Relate it to your life.
If Jesus is in me, I should expect to receive the same kind of treatment He did.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, lead, speak, and serve through me so that I can be Your powerful witness. Amen.”
February 14-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:3, They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
Observe what it is saying.
The religious leaders had tremendous power. They could jail people for whatever reason they chose. Just as Jesus faced it, here, we find opposition to the apostle’s ministry had begun. Once again, Satan was using the religious elite to do his dirty work. Paul’s words come to mind of this hidden battle. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) The apostles’ proclamation of the superior spiritual power of Jesus’ resurrection unleashed the darkness of the unseen world upon them.
Relate it to your life.
Proclaiming the supernatural work of the Lord will stir up the enemy.
Do something.
“Jesus, give me courage to be bold in my witness regardless of the enemy’s response. Amen.”
February 15-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:4, But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
Observe what it is saying.
In contrast to Peter and John being put in jail to silence them, we see the results of their Holy Spirit-filled message. Man may try to stop the spread of the Word, but nothing can hinder it. Isaiah said it this way, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11) Because God’s word is such a powerful force, the church exploded into being.
Relate it to your life.
The message of the word of God will not be thwarted.
Do something.
“Jesus, thank You for this great promise that nothing can stop Your word from accomplishing Your will. Amen.”
February 16-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:5-6, The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family.
Observe what it is saying.
The all-star cast of religious leaders gathered, just as they had when Jesus was arrested, to discuss what they were going to do about Peter and John. They were speaking the revolutionary message of resurrection. It wasn’t a revolution to overthrow an earthly government, but what they didn’t know, it was a revolution to overthrow the power and authority of the devil’s unseen world. What these religious leaders didn’t know was that they were being used as pawns by the underworld and that’s why they felt so fearful and threatened with the power they might lose.
Relate it to your life.
The message of resurrection is revolutionary for all who are associated with Satan’s realm.
Do something.
“Jesus, use the revolutionary message of resurrection to break every evil stronghold. Amen.”
February 17-Meditating on God’s Word
Write out the Scripture.
Acts 4:7, They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
Observe what it is saying.
The questioning was focused on the authority that gave them the power to do this. Since Jesus’ resurrection, this is the first specific miracle recorded. The forty days before His ascension Jesus gave much evidence that He was alive, but we are not told of any specific miracles that were performed. So, these religious leaders had two concerns. 1. The message of resurrection was being preached. 2. The authority that was behind this miraculous healing. From our vantage point, we would think it would have been clear that it was Jesus. Since they were involved in a coverup to dismiss Jesus’ resurrection, they didn’t want His name to be used and were clueless to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit carrying on Jesus’ works.
Relate it to your life.
There’s no greater authority than Jesus’ name.
Do something.
“Lord Jesus, may Your name be elevated and proclaimed as the name above all names. Amen.”
Posted in Daily Devotionals