Monday, July 12th
Read: Acts 16
A lot of time and energy is wasted in the Church today. I’m not talking about long-winded prayers or people leaving the lights on in the church building. I’m talking about how we plunge into new ministry and ideas that sound exciting and full of potential without consulting God first. Funny isn’t it? We want Him to be in all and through all, but we go ahead and do stuff that wasn’t His idea in the first place. We’re not going to start any revolutions doing things that God hasn’t initiated or desired. That is sure.
In the sixteenth chapter of Acts we see that Paul and his crew continually checked with the Lord about His plans for their mission. In verses 6-10 we read how the Holy Spirit told them where to minister and what places they should avoid. Of course God would have good reason for these decisions; likely, reasons that would keep them from wasting their time and energy. Paul’s ministry was revolutionary because he saw where God was working (or wanted to work) and joined him there. Sometimes God calls us out of one place and into another. Not every single person is called to do all of God’s work.
Another lesson from this chapter of Acts is that revolution is contagious. Once it has started in one person, you can’t stop it from spreading to others. Paul and his buddies were traveling around from town to town and, when in Philippi, God used Paul to revolutionize Lydia’s life. Because of one woman’s new faith, her entire household was saved and baptized and this opened the door for major revolution in Philippi.
One final lesson from this chapter is that God can use the most unsuccessful looking situations and turn them into revolution! Paul and Silas were severely beaten and then thrown into jail in Philippi for “teaching the people to do things that (were) against Roman customs” (v.21). They saw this situation as another chance to evangelize and praise God. Everyone was listening to Paul and Silas while they sang praises and prayed while they were imprisoned. Then there was an earthquake and the foundations of the jail shook and all their chains were broken.
The inner freedom that Paul and Silas experienced came from worshiping God in a dreadful circumstance. This freedom revolutionized the situation, and as their literal chains fell off, they shared the gospel with their jailer who accepted it, and his entire family was saved as well.
Process:
1. What are some other ways we can start revolutions? Preaching, singing etc…
2. When we praise, a revolution begins in us and we can’t help but impact those who hear us. Are our praises shaking foundations? Are they starting revolutions? Is your praise to God true, real, and heartfelt?
3. How can we make a positive witness in our lives everyday? How can we represent Christ well? What methods might seem good, but aren’t a good representation? Think through the ways in which Christ can be seen in your everyday choices and make sure they represent Him well.
4. What areas is God calling you to join Him in? To leave? To remain? (Pray these over)
CHALLENGE
Break the chapter up into sections base on the main ideas presented. Now, summarize each section. Try to get the summaries to be seven words or less, without losing the point of the section. Now, summarize the whole chapter in 14 words or less.
Sections:
Summaries:
Chapter Summary: