6 posts tagged “courage”

[69]

THE APOSTLES IMPRISONED

Read Acts 5:12–32

            Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him . . . laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. Acts 5:17-18 NKJV

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            Through the preaching of Spirit-filled apostles, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. (5:14 NIV) The result was that the High Priest and other Sadducees were filled with jealousy, and had them arrested. After a miraculous escape from prison, the apostles were again taken to the High Priest who said, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,…yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching…" Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! (5:28-29 NIV) 

            One of the most convincing proofs of the power of the Holy Spirit was the courage of these ordinary uneducated men. But with God's help, they became extraordinary witnesses for the kingdom.

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             Lord, I pray that You will give this ordinary woman an extraordinary filling of Your Spirit today. Help me to keep eternal values in view as I do my daily tasks, and try to love my family and other people as You love me.

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            Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.   Acts 5:42 NIV

[66]

PENTECOST

Read:  Acts 2:1–47

            Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2 NIV

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            Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power from the Holy Spirit and they would be witnesses to the world, beginning at Jerusalem. So they waited until the day of the feast of Pentecost when Jerusalem was filled with God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. (2:5)As the apostles began to speak, the people all said, "How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?" (2:8)

            Peter, who had once fled in fear of the Jews, now stood up in front of the largest crowd of Jews he could possibly imagine, and says, "This man (Jesus) was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." (2:23-25)

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            What a change God's indwelling Spirit had made in Peter. Lord, this same Holy Spirit lives in us, please give us the courage to witness to our generation and the one to come.

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            The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call."  Acts 2:39 NIV

Read John 19:38-42

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[50]

PETER WALKS ON WATER

Read: Matthew 14:22–33

            But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"  Matthew 14:30 NKJV

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            Peter was always quick to speak and quick to act; but sometimes he was slow to carry through on his actions. When the disciples realized that the shadowy figure walking on water was Jesus, Peter's first response was, "Lord, if it's you,…tell me to come to you on the water." (14:28 NIV)

           But as quickly as he jumped overboard and began to walk to Jesus, he realized how strong the wind was, and how large the waves, and he lost his courage. The Lord knew beforehand what Peter would do, and immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (14:31)

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            For some of us, it is easy to take on more than we can handle. Then when the difficulties come, we are overwhelmed by the "wind and waves."  But if the Lord is the One calling us to come, as He called Peter to Him on the water, then He is the One who is going to get us back in the boat. Lord, sometimes I deserve to hear the words you said to Peter, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (14:31)

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            Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."  Matthew 14:33 NKJV

            Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. Acts 2:2 NIV

       Peter, who had once fled in fear of the Jews, now stood up in front of the largest crowd of Jews he could possibly imagine, and says, "Jesus of Nazareth was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." (Acts 2:23-25)

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             The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."  Acts 2:39 NIV

SECRET DISCIPLES

Read John 19:38-42

            After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus.  John 19:38 NKJV

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            Here are two Jewish men, one of them Nicodemus, a Pharisee and the other Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent wealthy council member; both of them secret disciples of Jesus.  On one occasion Nicodemus tried to speak up at a council meeting by saying, "Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?" They ridiculed him by saying, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee." (John 7:52)

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            After the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea gathered up his courage and asked Pilot for Jesus' body.  He and Nicodemus - no longer secret disciples - prepared the body for burial and laid it in Joseph's new tomb - fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that Messiah would be buried in a rich man's grave.(Isaiah 53:9) 

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Lord, forgive me when I have been reluctant to speak up for You among unbelievers.  Give me courage and discernment to know when and where to share my faith.

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And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.  John 19:39 NKJV