Acts 12 - 4.24.25

Acts 12:6-7

S – 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

O – The spread of Christianity was on the rise and King Herod began to arrest and persecute many Christians. Herod had already arrested and executed James, brother of John. That had met with approval among the Jews so he then had Peter arrested during the Passover celebration. This was a strategic move, since more Jews were in the city than usual, and Herod could impress the most people. Herod’s plan undoubtedly was to execute Peter, but the believers were praying for Peter’s safety. The earnest prayer of the church significantly affected the outcome of these events. Prayer changes things (everything in fact), so pray often and with confidence!

A – I loved the series Pastor did on Not so Suddenly. Pastor Katie kicked us off in January with the first sermon in the series, which was titled, “Prayer Paves the Way.” There are always some things that happen which paves the way/prepares the way for God to move.  Then there is that suddenly moment when we get to see God in action. These suddenly moments usually follow our prayers. Those prayers may go on for days, months and/or years. In my own life, my husband and I had prayed for a baby. The first pregnancy came fairly quickly and ended just as abruptly with an ectopic pregnancy. We grieved, we prayed, we trusted God to bring us another baby. This time took 4 years and two more miscarriages…..then SUDDENLY, we were pregnant with Dominick. We were in the middle of 28-day prayer and fast and I was done. I told God, I’m sorry but please close the door for us or open it because I just couldn’t bear the pain anymore. I read a scripture that prompted me to run and take a pregnancy test and then…..Suddenly I was pregnant! Suddenly the trajectory of our lives changed forever! The good, the bad, and all the in between LOL. God had, and always does, have a plan. We are not in control of God’s plan for our lives and our only responsibility is to continue to abide in Him, worship Him, trust Him, and pray to Him. His timing is never our timing, so we need to patiently wait….

Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV) 3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it[a] will certainly come
and will not delay.

…and then SUDDENLY! What are you waiting for? What are you doing in the waiting period? Are you serving God? Worshipping Him? Tithing? Being generous and loving on others? He may be waiting for YOU to do something on your end before He moves, or it could just be that He is paving the way behind the scenes so that when you get what you are waiting for, you are ready for it and His timing will be perfect! Just because we want something so badly doesn’t mean we are ready for it. Let the author of your life tell you when you are ready : )

P – Thank you Jesus that your timing is always perfect for us because you have a plan and a purpose for each one of our lives. I thank you that in the waiting you are teaching me things, you are growing my walk with you, my maturity in You, and using me in ways that benefit your people and your kingdom. May I not focus on the things I am waiting for, but be productive for the kingdom while I am waiting. Help me to become more like you as I wait so that I am ready to receive your blessings and use them for your good! And when they come….suddenly…help me to always be in awe and live a life filled with gratitude! Amen!

- Crystal Flory

Acts 11 - 4.23.25

Scripture: Acts 11:19-21

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Observation

On Sunday, Pastor Levi shared the story of Lazarus. When Lazarus became gravely ill, his sisters sent a message asking Jesus to come and heal him. But before Jesus came, Lazarus died. The sisters were upset, not understanding why Jesus hadn’t healed him before it was too late. John 11:40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” Jesus called Lazarus back to life, and all those present were able to see the glory and the power of God!

In Acts, Jesus’ followers are being persecuted. I’m sure they were scared and prayed for the persecution to stop. But because of the persecution, they ended up leaving Jerusalem. And wherever they went, they took the message of Jesus with them. Can you imagine a world where the Christ followers had stayed in Jerusalem and only a chosen few heard the message of the gospel? In the beginning of Acts 11, you see that the believers thought the message of Jesus was only for the Jews. Without the impetus to leave Jerusalem, how would the world know Jesus?  

Application

Sometimes when we cry out to God, we don’t get the answer we are hoping for. It could be that what we are asking for is not good for us. It could be that the timing isn’t right. Or it could be that God has a different plan. The question is, how will we respond in the times of waiting or disappointment or heartbreak? Will we still trust that He is the all-knowing, all-powerful God who loves us beyond our ability to comprehend?

Prayer

Today I am overwhelmed by your love for me. You are a good God who loves me and wants what is best for me. It is easy to remember this when everything is good, but help me to also remember in the hard times. Spending time with you, praying, listening, and reading your word helps me to grow in my faith and strengthen my trust in you – that you are in control in all things.

- Debbie Dunn

Acts 10 - 4.22.25

SCRIPTURE:  ACTS 10:25-29; 34-35

“25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection.

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

OBSERVATION

At the beginning of Acts 10, God gave a vision to Corelius, through an angel of the God. Cornelius was a Centurian in the Roman government who was a God-fearing and praying man. The angel told Cornelius to go and bring Simon Peter to his house. Cornelius immediately followed God’s request, without question.

Peter also had a vision from God showing him that it’s OK to now eat things that were considered “unclean” by Jewish law. The instructions went a little further in verse 15 that said “The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” God made this emphatic statement because Peter was having a hard time understanding the big picture of the vision. God was changing something, due to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, of the long followed custom for Jews to not eat or even be around others who were considered “unclean.”

I love how God made it very clear to Peter (and all of us) to “not call anything impure that God has made clean.” In essence, who are we to call something “unclean” when God is the one who made it clean? This means those who are followers of God, outside of the Jews, can now be called clean in God’s eyes – even a Roman Centurian. God’s message of love and acceptance was now open to all.

I found it interesting that Peter’s vision and instructions had to be given to him three times (verse 16) before the vision ended but the vision to Cornelius was only given once. It appears that God gave extra time to Peter because he was having a hard time seeing and understanding the vision. At first he really struggled with what God was telling him. Ultimately, as we see in verses 27 – 29 and 34 – 35, Peter finally saw and understood God’s message was open to all. How wonderful to see God’s patience and understanding of Peter’s individual needs on full display. He gave the instructions three times - working through and making sure Peter got the message. Even as God worked through Peter’s struggle, He works through our own shortcomings and struggles.

APPLICATION

God used a Roman Centurian to help Peter see that God’s kingdom is open to ALL In context, God used a Roman, who was basically hated by Jews, to show that God does not show favoritism and accepts all “who fears him and does what is right.” I love how God can take the one thing that is so opposite of what we have stuck in our head to turn it right around for His good.

Beyond the fact this scripture shows the pivot point where Jews could eat and be around those once considered “unclean,” but it’s also for everyone else to not call or treat anyone as impure or unclean. Basically, we shouldn’t treat others as beneath, lower, or not part of God’s message of love. This transcends our Mission to “Love People” just as they are, no matter how different they might be.

On Easter Sunday someone I know posted this “And I remember why I hate going to church!”  It seems where she went for Easter in her area, someone who worked at the church yelled at her and there was a road rage incident in the parking lot. Other friends of hers chimed in this is why they don’t attend church either. My heart sank thinking this even happened and sad that people have negative experiences in the Lord’s house. What’s even worse is it happened on Easter when a lot of visitors and others come to celebrate Christ’s triumphant rise from the grave. I don’t know the situational details but ultimately someone who doesn’t normally attend church, who is different than others at the church, was treated without love and respect. They were ultimately hurt by the actions of those who should love on them without question.

“30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[a] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30 – 31

34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34 – 35

When I think about the long held Jewish law about not associating with “unclean” people and the incident that happened to my friend, others outside the “right” people were treated differently than the ones “inside” their group. Peter was shown and understood this fact to not call or treat others as if they are impure or unclean. He was being asked to accept someone who was part of the group Jews hated (Roman government), to welcome Cornelius into the family of God, and to treat him (and all) with God’s love. This scripture and Peter’s example is one we should all follow: to not treat others as if they are beneath or below us, or that our faith or church is superior to others. God commands us to “love one another” which means to always treat others with the same love God has for us: unconditional.

PRAYER

Lord, thank you for this scripture which shows exactly how we should view, treat, and love others. Your message of love and forgiveness is open to all. You show no favoritism and accept those who fear you and does what is right. Lord, forgive me for ever treating someone differently than you would!  Help me to always show the entire essence of your love, to not treat others differently, and to show your love for them at any point in their faith journey. Whether they are just coming to church for the first time or they’ve been to church a lot, help me to see them with your eyes, your deep love for each person, and acceptance when they seek after you. In Jesus name. Amen.

- Mary Oberg