The Conversion of Lydia

Acts 16:11-15

So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Or listen to the podcast on: Apple, Spotify or your favourite location by searching for ‘Acts of the Apostles, concert of Prayer for Scotland.’

The Macedonian Call.

Acts 16:6-10

And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Or listen to the podcast on: Apple, Spotify or your favourite location by searching for ‘Acts of the Apostles, concert of Prayer for Scotland.’

Paul Stoned at Lystra

Acts 14:19-23

But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Or listen to the podcast on: Apple, Spotify or your favourite location by searching for ‘Acts of the Apostles, concert of Prayer for Scotland.’

Paul and Barnabas rejected in Pisidia.

Acts 13:42-52

As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.

The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,

“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Or listen to the podcast on: Apple, Spotify or your favourite location by searching for ‘Acts of the Apostles, concert of Prayer for Scotland.’

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off. Acts 13:1-3

Acts 13:1-3

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3

Or listen to the podcast on: Apple, Spotify or your favourite location by searching for ‘Acts of the Apostles, concert of Prayer for Scotland.’

Peter Is Rescued (Part 1)

Acts 12:6-11

Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

Or listen to the podcast on: Apple, Spotify or your favourite location by searching for ‘Acts of the Apostles, concert of Prayer for Scotland.’

The Church in Antioch

The Church in Antioch (Part 2). Acts 11:22-26

The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Or listen to the podcast on: Apple, Spotify or your favourite location by searching for ‘Acts of the Apostles, concert of Prayer for Scotland.’

Seven chosen to serve.

Seven chosen to serve. Acts 6:1-7

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

What is Easter all about?

Why is it the most important point in the Christian calendar, even in all of history?

Easter is celebrated around the same time each year – early spring – and it coincides with an ancient Jewish festival, The Passover.

This was instituted, when the enslaved Jewish nation was about to be freed from over 400 years of slavery under the Egyptians and their King or Pharoah. It was a simple meal, prepared considering the imminent escape and need to travel light. The meal itself included a lamb and this was to be eaten in families or if it was too large, several families. As the lamb was killed some of its blood was to be placed on the door posts of each house.

Why was this necessary?

Well, God had promised to free Israel, but Pharoah did not recognise ‘God’ – who is this God he announced. So, God warned Pharoah nine times through awe inspiring plagues to ‘let his people go’, these included water being turned into blood, frogs, gnats, flies, livestock deaths, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the final plague was that every first born (animal or human) would die unless they had blood on their doorposts. So, the blood was protection against the final and most deadly plague. Many trusted the warning and put blood on their door posts, but many did not – including Pharoah, whose first born son was killed and as a result – he finally agreed to free the millions of slaves. You may recall some of this from the animated movie ‘Prince of Egypt’ or from reading the Book of Exodus in the Bible.

Well, that whole episode was just a picture, or a mere sign to demonstrate what the real Passover would look like. This time there would be an even greater deliverance, from an even greater and more long-lasting danger. Jesus was the ‘Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world’ just like the lambs that were slaughtered in Egypt. In the same way his blood was shed, so that many might be saved from their sin (everything bad and evil that we do, mostly to each other, but underneath it all it is against God himself) and receive not just a temporary freedom from human slavery – but an eternal freedom from the power and stain of sin.

What was the big problem in any case?

There was no other way that God could simultaneously uphold his righteous nature (To punish sin – which each of us have, no matter how good, religious, or otherwise have done) and yet at the same time forgive people who turned away from their sin and be merciful. We can understand this by the fact, that no matter how ‘sorry’ a murderer is – we still feel the correct outcome is that they are punished with a lengthy prison sentence. We can’t just ‘let people off the hook and pretend nothing happened’. Similar with God – we stand in horror at evil, and so we should, but God hates evil more than we ever could. Yet, because of his great love for us, he made a daring rescue plan, one that would cost Him everything; His one and only Son. For us, who receive this gift – it is however free.

So, we see how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane ahead of his crucifixion; there, was no other way for salvation – except through the horrific death of a perfect sacrifice on the awful method of punishment of the time: a Roman cross.

Jesus went to the cross willingly, and as He died, he uttered the most powerful statement in all history “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” [Luke 23:34]. Indicating the reason, why He was there – was for you and I, and even those people who brutally killed and mocked him. Here Jesus asks that we be forgiven and are not ‘guilty as charged’ despite all the evidence against us to the contrary, as He died in our place – known as the great exchange: Jesus died the death we deserved for the sin we committed, to give us eternal life that we could never earn and the eternal forgiveness of our sin.

So, Jesus was killed and died, and was buried. But whilst Jesus was alive, he had spoken of coming back to life – and no one really had a category for that or even believed him. Who would? It is not a realistic or natural thing to say, or even believe. This included his disciples who all abandoned him and had the most reason to be sceptical about these outrageous claims than anyone.

On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead, and evidenced that everything was as He had said it was. The resurrection is proof that we can be and are forgiven and that sin can be dealt with by His shed blood on the Cross.

Happy Easter, as we celebrate the wonderful life, death, and resurrection of Jesus!!

Holy Spirit Series..

A highly recommended course exploring the person, work and ministry of the Holy Spirit:

New Ground Churches | Media | Series

Report on the Pioneer Europe Conference

“I attended the Pioneer Europe conference as the team leader of the Concert of Prayer for Scotland, an organisation which seeks to stimulate corporate prayer and hence revitalise local churches across Scotland and more widely in Europe.

“Some of the personal insights that stuck out for me included:

1. The remarkable tension between clinging to what we have (building) and alternatively investing into other people or situations (sowing). Building is very rewarding, and you can easily see the progress made, whilst sowing feels like you are losing something or even throwing it away, requiring faith to tell the difference.

2. When starting a new work of God, and we encounter the great need around us, along with even well-intentioned individuals who can reason or ‘manipulate’ us with apparent ‘needs’; it is vital to stay in our lane joyfully, guilt free, knowing we are called to it by God and must remain in faith for what we are called to, sometimes only having a promise from God.

3. It was refreshing to consider afresh what Godly leadership looks like and how humble servant leaders are so different to the model of leadership offered constantly by the world and yet, ironically, so powerful in gospel advance. Have I died to personal selfish ambition?

“I would recommend this conference (and the recorded content from previous conferences) to anyone who senses that God is changing the seasons in their life in some significant way. In particular, a call to go or to stay and start something new right there. It can be a daunting task and a lonely road to tread, and the questions discussed, along with the powerful apostolic teaching will help to stir fresh faith and affections to respond and move with God without getting ahead of him or keeping him waiting.”

Back together in Málaga — Relational Mission

How to get a prayer meeting going

How do you get people to not only pray but to love praying and spending time together in God’s presence, longing for powerful and wonderful things to take place that would otherwise be impossible? How do you spark off an unstoppable furnace for people to gather around and warm each other’s hearts in the things of God by calling out for their situation together in the middle of a busy office environment? Or maybe it is your church which is prayerless or has prayer meetings that are not working, evidenced through; no vibrancy, no contributions, few individuals pray, clock watching, dwindling attendance rather than growth.

ON MISSION AT WORK - LLOYD'S STORY - #5 Praying and developing a heart for your situation — Redeemer Church Colchester

Advent: Prepare

Advent: Prepare the Way

“He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” (Luke 1:16–17)

What John the Baptist did for Israel, Advent can do for us. Don’t let Christmas find you unprepared. I mean spiritually unprepared. Its joy and impact will be so much greater if you are ready!

So, that you might be prepared . . .

First, meditate on the fact that we need a Saviour. Christmas is an indictment before it becomes a delight. “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). If you don’t need a Saviour, you don’t need Christmas. Christmas will not have its intended effect until we feel desperately the need for a Saviour. Let these short Advent meditations help awaken in you a bittersweet sense of need for the Saviour.

Second, engage in sober self-examination. Advent is to Christmas what Lent is to Easter. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (Psalm 139:23–24). Let every heart prepare him room . . . by cleaning house.

Third, build God-cantered anticipation and expectancy and excitement into your home — especially for the children. If you are excited about Christ, they will be too. If you can only make Christmas exciting with material things, how will the children get a thirst for God? Bend the efforts of your imagination to make the wonder of the King’s arrival visible for the children.

Fourth, be much in the Scriptures, and memorize the great passages! “Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:29)! Gather ’round that fire this Advent season. It is warm. It is sparkling with colours of grace. It is healing for a thousand hurts. It is light for dark nights.

From www.desiringgod.org/articles/prepare-the-way-of-the-lord

Advent: Suddenly

“Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:11–14).
 
God wanted to make sure the world knew that his son had arrived. The long anticipated saviour of the world was heralded by a multitude of heavenly host who could not help but praise God and point the gaze of all to do the same. Jesus came to display the Glory of God. The angels declare this truth and announce peace on earth to those who belong to God.
 
All things exist to give glory to God – so when the new era in salvation history began – it was to be God who would be acknowledged, thanked and glorified.
 
As you approach Christmas consider how your life could be used for God’s glory and pleasure and your own incredible joy in such a way that even those around you give glory to God. Maybe your life is not only about you but in fact about the glory of God and his renown. Invite God to get the glory in all of your life and see where He leads you. 

Advent: The coming Shepherd.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1-3

Sheep are known for their simplicity and weakness in the face of danger. Being a shepherd was not considered a good profession – it was for those people who did not make it in any other area of life. Yet Jesus chooses to be called a shepherd – one who will look after a flock and tend to it gently.

Christmas means that the sheep who were once wandering aimlessly and in danger are now instead given all they want, allowed to lie down in a field of lush green grass with still waters nearby. In such a place of rest and plenty they are restored and made strong. God’s people are led in right paths not just so that they receive the comfort and rest but so that God’s name might be glorified. When we throw off our independence, striving and boasting in our own abilities or strengths and instead trust in a gentle Shepherd to provide our needs – we declare to the world whose we are. The Good Shepherd is a gift to His people – not a burden. He lifts the burdens of the flock and their resounding peace, security and joy in his protection gives glory to the name of God.

This Christmas know what it means to belong to the great Shepherd King, who not only knows your every need, but provides for you and protects you in every trial and danger. Be led beside still waters and know the joy of resting under his watchful gaze.

Advent: God’s Little People

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.(Luke 2:1–5)

Have you ever thought what an amazing thing it is that God ordained beforehand that the Messiah be born in Bethlehem (as the prophecy in Micah 5:2 shows); and that he so ordained things that when the time came, the Messiah’s mother and legal father were living not in Bethlehem but in Nazareth; and that in order to fulfil his word and bring two unheard-of, insignificant, little people to Bethlehem that first Christmas, God put it in the heart of Caesar Augustus that all the Roman world should be enrolled each in his own town? A decree for the entire world in order to move two people seventy miles!

Have you ever felt, like me, little and insignificant in a world of seven billion people, where all the news is about big political and economic and social movements and outstanding people with global significance and lots of power and prestige?

If you have, don’t let that make you disheartened or unhappy. For it is implicit in Scripture that all the mammoth political forces and all the giant industrial complexes, without their even knowing it, are being guided by God, not for their own sake, but for the sake of God’s little people — the little Mary and the little Joseph who have to be got from Nazareth to Bethlehem. God wields an empire to fulfil his word and bless his children.

Do not think, because you experience adversity in your little world of experience, that the hand of the Lord is shortened. It is not our prosperity or our fame but our holiness that he seeks with all his heart. And to that end, he rules the whole world. As Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” And he is always turning it for his saving and sanctifying and eternal purposes among his people.

He is a big God for little people, and we have great cause to rejoice that, unbeknownst to them, all the kings and presidents and premiers and chancellors and chiefs of the world follow the sovereign decrees of our Father in heaven, that we, the children, might be conformed to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ — and then enter his eternal glory.

From www.desiringgod.org/messages/a-big-god-for-little-people

Advent: Beginnings

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:1-5

That all things were made through him is an awesome thing. That everything we know and see was brought about by the one who came to save is just as incredible. He came and brings with him a piercing light that shines in the darkness and shows everything for what it really is in the brilliance of his absolute and glorious truth.

This Christmas know that our King overcomes all evil, as great and invincible as it seems. He comes to bring truth and to begin to set all things right. Look to the light that does not change with seasons, governments, or anything else that might shake our world. Come to the light of the world.

Advent: Behold

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and l they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22: 4-5

Behold, lift up your eyes, your redemption draws near! One day you will see clearly and be able to gaze into the face of your great shepherd king. There will be no need of moon or star by night or sun to shine by day – for God will be our light. We will be with him forever and ever... and every pain, tear or danger faced in this life will seem like a breath – so fleeting.

Christmas means that the promise has drawn nearer. God’s gift of salvation is knocking at the door. His waterfall of grace is about to break over your life.

C.S. Lewis described the wonder of the new earth in the book, ‘The last Battle’:

“And as He spoke, He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”

Have a wonderful Christmas. Enjoy precious time with family, and rejoice in the truth that God has done it all.

Advent: Amazement

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” John 6:32-35
 
We often worry about the coming year and how we will provide for ourselves and our families practically. One consequence of Jesus coming to save his people – is that He takes on the role of ultimate provider. He wants us to know in our hearts that when we put our trust in him – he will come through for us. Yet that is not the end of the matter. He wants us to see beyond the bread that he will provide and to look into his face and enjoy his presence. Yes he came to give us our daily bread – but he came mainly to be bread. He wants us to go to him and rest in his finished work of salvation – he is the bread of life.
 
This Christmas – be more amazed at the giver than any of his wonderful and jaw-dropping gifts. He is the bread of life.

Advent: Stars

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. Matthew 2:1-4
 
When Jesus appears on the scene – even the stars declare he has arrived. Wise men, who probably know nothing of who Jesus is, travel from the distant east to come and see and worship him. The great city of Jerusalem is turned upside down with rumours of another king. Yet God chooses not a great city or a palace as the place of the birth of Jesus, but a tiny village called Bethlehem. He is born not in pomp and power, but out of sight in a farm shed.
 
This Christmas, though you may be distant from God like the wise men, draw near to worship the Saviour of the world. Don’t be so busy listening to the rumours, clamour and noise going on about the seemingly important issues of the day. Maybe go out from all the noise and drama and find time to once again fall in love with the one who gave himself for you. We were made to worship him and only really find true joy when we do just that. All other pursuits have a hollowness about them and their glow very soon fades.