Thursday, June 30

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2016

"The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there." (Acts 19:32)

"'And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace… Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified.'" (Acts 20:22-24,32)

We may take away several lessons from the contrasting attitudes of 1) Paul and the early disciples and 2) the Ephesian mob. These concepts go to the heart of our existential longings as God's creation.

The Ephesian mob desired to exert some shared purposes – or maybe just to become involved in the drama of commotion. In any event, we commonly wish to have influence over or at least participate in something greater than ourselves. Nationalism, regionalism, and even sports fandom all play upon this key element of our created nature.

Yet, the mob grew unruly without even knowing its purpose. As Pastor Scott likes to explain, there are three kinds of people in this world: 1) people who make things happen; 2) people who watch things happen; and 3) people who ask, "What happened?" This mob didn't have a clear purpose.

If we take inventory of the world's thinking, we may become overwhelmed with the complexity and confusion that different camps bring to the table. Indeed, politics has become dominated by half-truths, innuendo, and obfuscation, all of which Twitter seems to perpetuate and celebrate. We now accuse first, question second, backpedal third, reflect fourth, and apologize or empathize never. A terrible combination!

In contrast, Paul's friends in Ephesus, though devastated by his departure, knew how to carry on after he left. Paul had provided them a clear example of living a life submitted to God's purposes. He didn't understand the specifics of times and places, but he had identified himself as Christ's Kingdom bondservant, one committed to righteousness (Romans 6). He trusted that God would use his human life for eternal ends, and he shared this hope even through a tearful goodbye.

As Christ-followers, we do have a purpose larger than ourselves every day and a strong commitment to upholding and honoring the truth of the Scriptures and the power of the Gospel. As Romans 8:28 mentions, we "have been called according to his purpose." God's purposes now supersede the world's confusion and innuendo. We have clarity on the larger vision: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… " (Matthew 6:33) We are Kingdom-minded, and we understand that, through that orientation, we will experience joy, love, and peace through the Spirit as we grow more into the image of Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank You for giving us a purpose larger than ourselves. Thank You for showing us Your awesome example of living a fully committed Kingdom life. Send Your Spirit into our hearts so that we may embrace Your larger purposes for us, and give us the courage to forsake lesser purposes in order to live first for You. To You be all glory, praise, and honor in our lives and forever! In Your Name, amen.

June 29

Acts 19

Paul went on a missions trip.  It spanned from Judea to Caesarea and ended up in Rome - the center of influence and power. Even though as we read today in the last leg of this journey he traveled under guard, his mission was still being accomplished.  Paul's focus was to take the message of Christ and spread it (1:8).  I found it interesting how Paul's goal was to take the most powerful Message ever spoken to the most influential nation at the time.  Non the less, through trials, storms and tribulations, Paul stayed focused on Jesus and the race set before him, and ran it.  As it was for Paul, so it is meant for us.  Hebrews 12:1 tells us "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."  Paul was an incredible witness.  So is everyone reading this blog.  As I thought about this I realized that there are many ways we can spread the Word today.  Prayer, going out to visit someone, calling a person we haven't spoken to for a while, or going for a walk and saying hi to someone we don't know, are just a few. Each day can be a missions trip for us and we don't have to go far.  Lord, I pray for everyone reading this blog that You send us out today with a clear vision of our mission.  I pray Lord that as You send us where You want us to go, like Paul, we stayed focused on the race set before us and bring Your message of hope to everyone we meet.



Randi
  

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Saturday, June 25, 2016

[by Keesha Sullivan]

As my friend, Eloise, laid in her hospital bed, a lady that was cleaning the hospital came to the door. Eloise warmly smiled at her and welcomed her into the room. As the lady took her first few steps into the room, she stopped and said, "Wow, I feel the peace of God in this room. You must be a believer!" She then proceeded to ask Eloise to pray for her. 

Although Eloise was the one in the hospital bed, the woman knew that there was something special about Eloise. She wasn't going through this adversity in the same way that most people do. Eloise was cheerful, peaceful, and full of a supernatural joy. 

When people see us in the midst of our storm and we are overcoming, they know that God is real. They know that it is possible for them to prevail in even the most dire situations.  People receive hope. They are listening and watching us as we live our lives. 

In our Scripture reading today, Paul and Silas gave hope to the prisoners. Paul and Silas had been stripped and beaten. They were severely flogged and then thrown into prison. They had every reason to lay down and cry, sleep, or even complain once they entered their cell. Instead of doing those things, they prayed and sang hymns to God. It says, "the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25). The prisoners had to be astonished and wonder, "How and why are these men so joyful? What do they possess?" 

God doesn't want us to go through trials defeated because He cares about us. He also cares about the people that take notice of our reaction. God has given us all the power that we need to conquer any adversity that we may face so that we can testify that He got us through and that He is getting us through! He wants people to ponder, "How and why?" so that we can tell them it was our Heavenly Father. 

Lord, please help us to be men and women that crush our problems rather than allowing our problems to crush us. We want to be able to testify about the God that we serve. We want to be able to tell people that they too can go to You and get the power to triumph in this life. We love You God. We thank You for the supernatural power that You make available to us to overcome. We need You, and we thank You for Your goodness. 

---------

Rev. Kenny Sullivan

Associate Pastor

Grace EFC | Stamford 

m: (203) 978 - 3778

o: (203) 323 - 6737, ext.12

"soli Deo Gloria"

June 24

2 Kings 6:16-18 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.

 

There is a battle going on. It is not a small battle; it is cosmic warfare and in the balance lies the lives of our loved ones, our friends, this city and this whole generation. For too long we have been thinking of the Christian life as a playground and not a battlefield. But the Bible teaches with absolute clarity that we are locked in a terrible fight for the hearts and minds of this generation. And I hate to say it, but it appears Christians are being "slaughtered ruled" in the USA.

Secularism has championed the worldview that the only reality is the physical world we can see. Kenny and I were talking yesterday about the shootings on the West side of Stamford. At the public forum on this there were three words that even the Christian pastors did not use, faith, family and prayer. How will we ever win the battle without these three?   

Elisha had the eyes to see this unseen world. He lived as if it were a reality, and in that lies his effectiveness. He believed this unseen world of spiritual beings had more of an influence on the physical world than kings and armies.

So what is your strategy to engage our true enemy? It is by prayer that we gain the victory over the unseen forces of evil. It is by prayer that we open the eyes of unbelievers. Our arguments and slick gospel presentations cannot compete with these forces of darkness. 

It is time for us to wake up and get involved in the real battle.

 

Lord, I pray for eyes to see the real spiritual world, to see that I am in a daily spiritual battle. I pray for my eyes to be open to this conflict. I also pray for my eyes to see that the hills are still full of horses and chariots. Lord, please awaken me from my slumber. I also pray for your power to open the eyes of my family and friends. Help us all to see 20/20 with your spiritual vision.

In Jesus Name   

--

"Multiplying leaders to change the world"

Thursday, June 23

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016

In today's reading, we learn about the Jerusalem Council, in which the apostles and other church leaders sought to reconcile what had happened in the Gospel ministry to the Gentiles.  How would they take the clear signs that the Holy Spirit had indeed blessed this ministry and, with outward signs of inward transformation, marked the Gentiles as having become co-heir of salvation in Christ?  Would the Way that Jesus proclaimed remain authentically Jewish?  What character would it take in the disparate communities where the Gospel had gone and would go?

Sometimes, when we read history, we may have the tendency to discount or forget the tension or uncertainty present during these turning-point moments.  When these moments occur, in worldly terms, many will be disappointed with the outcomes.  Still, here, the Holy Spirit guided the Church to bring unity and to set the course of significant further growth.

Please notice the reliance on the Holy Spirit's direction in this critical decisionmaking.  From this example -- and quite a few others in the Scriptures -- we understand that, without the Spirit's wisdom, human plans will count for nothing.  The early Church demonstrates a faithfulness to, submittedness to, and embrace of God's will that we would do well to replicate.

As you may have read, the British voted to "leave" the European Union yesterday.  This result has given victory to a populist movement of Euroskeptics, those who doubted the value of the European project.  In some respects, this populist movement leveraged fears about immigration and the "other," while promising better economic conditions for those already in Britain.  The result has prompted the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and will set off two years of negotiations as to the implications.  This vote may turn the tide of the "European community" that had come together in the post-World War II period and give momentum to other Euroskeptic movements on the Continent.

The Brexit vote may have little direct impact on your day-to-day life, but its outcome does raise the question of what commitments we owe to others.  Populism ultimately stands on the rallying cry of "everyone for himself" or "us vs. them."  Certainly, these messages sound friendly at first, but, when we take the ideas to their logical extreme, all community would break down as we slice "us vs. them" more and more finely.

From the Scriptures, it does appear that God has a tremendous heart for unity and cooperation.  He loves each nation and seeks to bring blessing through His Son.  May we embrace this outward focus and inward love to counteract forces seeking to spread divisions and envy.

Lord God, thank You for Your heart for the nations.  Give us wisdom as to how to love a world that seeks to divide on so many labels.  Send Your Spirit to Grace Church and our extended community so that we would live in unity and have the courage and strength to bless others first.  We need Your presence desperately in a world of bitterness and division.  We love You and give You the honor and praise today.  In Jesus's Name, amen.

June 22

Psalm 140

Heavenly Father,  I lift up all of my brothers and sisters who are reading this blog and pray Lord Your blessings over everyone and their families.
I pray Lord that whatever circumstance they find themselves in that You rescue them from the plan from the evil one.
I pray Lord that you protect us all from the men of violence who devise evil plans and stir up war every day.
Father God keep us from the hands of the wicked and the proud who set traps along our path.
We declare that You Lord are our God.
Hear our cries for mercy, only You are our strong deliverance.
Only You Lord shield our heads.
We know Lord that only You secure justice for the poor and uphold the cause of the needy.  We are indeed, poor and needy.
Being made righteous with God by the blood of Christ, we praise and bless Your Holy Name.

In Jesus Name,
Amen




Randi

June 20: Of role models and going awry...

1 Kings 22:1-53

Acts 13:16-41

Psalm 138:1-8

Proverbs 17:17-18

I wish I could say I could identify with Micaiah.  He had integrity - when others tried to entice him to do the self serving thing, to regurgitate what the king of Israel wanted to hear, he refused - despite the potential consequences (after all, this wasn't the first run in he had with the king, was it?).  And he said what God told him to, even if it was going to seriously tick off all the four hundred other prophets - Zedekiah in particular, he of the dramatic gestures.  

I even wish I could identify with Jehoshaphat.  His first instinct when presented with an opportunity, a plan?  "First seek the counsel of the Lord."  And when faced with the prospect of contrarian advice, he was prepared to receive it.

The thing is, I am more often like the king of Israel.  I decide what I want, and then go seek God's endorsement.  And when I don't get it, I find reason to reject God's word..."didn't I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, only bad?"  And then I go on my willful way...sometimes resorting to other measures - deception, anyone? - to try and get what I want.  And while I've not taken an arrow to the body as a result, nor has any of the outcomes achieved involved dogs licking up my blood, it is safe to say all those plans went awry.  Because they were mine, not His. 

Father, forgive us for the times we've been like the king of Israel.  Teach us to be submissive as Jehoshaphat was, grant us the integrity Micaiah had.  Then, as David sang, "I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; before the 'gods' I will sing your praise."  Then the "Lord will vindicate me..."