8th Year 12-13 Edition 3 – Acts 6
l The Feast l
Dec 1_2012 Acts 6
Dear Saints,
Today we prayerfully read, Acts 6. Some of the widows were not being properly taken care of, this led to appointment of deacons. One of the new deacons Stephen, is falsely accused of blasphemy. ”12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.” Acts 6:12-15, English Standard Version (ESV). Look at Stephen a man of good report chosen to to be a deacon. He loved the Lord and continued to praise and witness about the miracle of Jesus as he carried out his ministry. He is a man sharing God’s love and his faith in Jesus! “[The Word Became Flesh] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-2, 14 ESV. Stephen chose a good thing, giving up what he couldn’t keep for that which he could not lose. This is a path that we all should choose. That being said, keep the first thing first, that is salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God will truly bless you as you share his love.
The Feast
Sat., December 1, 2012, Acts 6, -
“The appointment of deacons. (1-7) Stephen falsely accused of blasphemy. (8-15)” – Matthew Henry Concise
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How To Fish – Devotional series by Pastor, Glen Aycock;
Posted Dec 1, 2012
“Fishing Series –Number 3
(Sermon outline excerpt of “Gone Fishing!” by Joe Alain)
SCRIPTURE: JOHN 4: 35-38
35 “Do you not say, ’There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36 “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
37 “For in this the saying is true: ’One sows and another reaps.’
38 “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
“Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
Fishing in the Wrong Pond
And then sometimes we do fish earnestly, as the disciples, but we are simply fishing in the wrong place. We are toiling and catching nothing. Our nets are being thrown out but they are coming up empty. Why? We may be fishing in the wrong place. The disciples didn’t see the school of fish all around them until Jesus guided them. The truth is that we can toil but if we are not fishing in the right place our nets will continue to come up empty.
The problem is not declining fish stocks. The problem is that we do not see the fish and go after them with the right bait. It takes three things to be successful fisherman and likewise fishers of men. It takes knowledge of where the fish are. It takes the right bait. It takes time — translated patience. Healthy and growing churches that are penetrating a lost world are churches that are sensitive to the needs of people around them and they are leaving their comfort zone and traditions to reach people. You’ve probably heard of John Ortberg’s book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. I suggest that the church may need to get out of the boat that has been stuck on a spiritual sandbar for too long in order to wade out into the waters where the fish are schooling. Then we will cast our nets and bring in a great catch that will be nothing short of miraculous!
In John 20:4 we are told that Jesus called out to the disciples and asked them essentially this question, “have you caught any fish?” At least the disciples were honest fisherman. This was one fish story that was true. They had not caught anything! The Lord is asking us the same question. Church, “how’s your fishing?” This is the measure of the faithfulness of the church. Not our inspiring buildings, or our impressive budgets, or our impassioned boastings. But our fishing! How many souls have we caught? How many disciples of Christ are we making? And we need to be painfully honest about the success or failure of our fishing trips.
The Fish Are Biting
Jesus guided the disciples to where the fish were located. With His eyes they could see the fish schooling. He will do the same for us. If we will look with Jesus’ eyes we will see the people who are in need all around us. Jesus says to us, “I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35). Fishing is a bit like farming. You see results in proportion to the work that you put into the endeavor. This principle of sowing and reaping is variously stated and illustrated in Scripture. Paul expressed this principle clearly in 2 Corinthians 9:6, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
PRAYER SUGGESTION: Dear Jesus show us where to fish and where they are biting. Help us find souls for you. Amen.”
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God Bless you,
Brother Mike
Tags: jesus, love, hope, care, god, holy, ghost, save, help
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,” 2 Peter 3:10-11 ESV.
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