“They said to her, “You are out of your mind.”” Acts 12:18 ESV
Today is Acts 12.
Things were looking pretty bleak… Herod the king, had James the brother of John, killed. He was one of the 12 disciples that followed Jesus during His earthly ministry. He was Peter’s friend. Then Herod decided to arrest Peter too. BUT, “earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.” (Verse 9)
Four squads of soldiers, chains, and the iron gates of the city are no match for God. An angel sent by God came to Peter and led him out of the prison and into the city. It was so incredible that Peter thought it was just a vision he was seeing until the angel left him, and he stood free in a street of a city.
When Peter arrived at Mary’s house, the servant girl who went to the door to answer his knocking was amazed and left him there outside. She reported the miracle to those inside, and they said, “You are out of our mind.”
God is a God of miracles! These miracles are “mind blowing”! People who hear them may have a hard time believing that what has happened is true or could even occur. I have seen “mind blowing” miracles in my own life. God still works wonders that the world would tell you are impossible. For me, a woman held in the chains of a prison of anxiety — meds, secular therapy, eastern meditation apps, mindfulness, you name it… I’ve probably tried it… has seen the chains drop off, walked passed the guards, and am standing totally free! Some may say, “you are out of your mind.” Because it doesn’t match the pattern of the world. A person in prison should stay there… But God!
Earnest prayer was made on Peter’s behalf, and God answered! God is still the same! He answers prayer!
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”Acts 8:4 NIV
Today is Acts 8.
After Stephen was martyred, “great persecution” came against the church. This caused the church to scatter “throughout the regions.” But this did not stop the Good News about Jesus from continuing to spread. Those who were scattered continued on mission, “preaching the Word.” (Verse 4)
As they did, lives were being changed. Demons were being cast out of people, and the “paralyzed or lame were healed.” (Verse 7) In Samaria, it was reported that “there was much joy in that city” (Verse 8 ) because Philip had proclaimed Jesus to them and they paid attention to what was being said.
When we desire to serve God with all our hearts, opposition will occur. In America, we may not live under the threat of martyrdom, but that does not mean that our enemies, the world, the flesh, and the devil, will not try to stop us. We must be determined to stay on mission and preach the Word!
We have the message that changes lives. We have the same Holy Spirit working within us to empower us to boldly proclaim Jesus! As we ask Him to fill us to overflowing, He will work in us and through us to proclaim Jesus to everyone we come in contact with no matter what opposition may arise.
“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… And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit…” Acts 6:3, 5 ESV
Today is Acts 6.
Let’s leave that to the professionals… It is easy to think that the dividing line between clergy and laity needs to be well defined and not crossed. BUT no matter how we serve God one thing is clear. We need to be “full of the Spirit.”
The apostles were needing to devote their time to “preaching the word,” but a need arose within the church to care for the widows. This would require serving by distributing provisions. So they picked out seven men to serve who were “full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” Stephen was noted as being a man “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.” He was also noted as being “full of grace and power,” and he was “doing great wonders and signs among the people.”
Stephen is a great example to us of an ordinary man who served an extraordinary God. Even in serving God in the most ordinary of ways, “waiting tables,” he served in the power of the Holy Spirit.
We are no different. Whether we serve God as a mother of children, a fast food worker, a business professional, or a full time minister in a local congregation, we need to serve as one “full of the Holy Spirit.” God has plans to use us wherever He has us, for His glory! He plans to work “great wonders and signs” (verse 8 ) through our lives. The key is to live our lives “full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” as Stephen was.
Serving God is not just for the professionals…Whether preaching or waiting tables, we are called to know Him and make Him known!
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 ESV
Boldness! Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit” spoke with boldness. Even when arrested and brought before the powerful religious leaders, Peter and John were not afraid.They continued to testify of Jesus and His salvation. This boldness gave evidence to the council of a fact. These men had been with Jesus!
Peter and John were “common men,” fishermen. They were “uneducated.” They were not the elite But there was one characteristic that stood out about them, “they had been with Jesus.”
When we live our lives surrendered to the Holy Spirit, filled with Him, it will be evident that we have been with Jesus as well. The same Holy Spirit, that enabled Peter and John to be bold and to display Jesus in their lives, desires to fill us and give us boldness as well.
After the council released Peter and John, they went to their friends and prayed. They asked for God to continue to grant them boldness so they could continue to speak His Word “with all boldness, while {He stretched} out {His} hand to heal, and signs and wonders {were} performed through the name of {His} holy servant Jesus.” (Verse 30) When they prayed the place was “shaken” and “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Verse 31) With great power they testified of the resurrection of Jesus. (Verse 33)
We have a purpose in our lives. We are to know God and to make Him known. Peter and John gave evidence that they had been with Jesus, they knew Him. Everywhere they went they witnessed of Him, made Him known. God’s purpose for us has not changed! What God has called us to He will empower us to do! He longs to fill us with His Holy Spirit so that we can be witnesses! We can proclaim the Word of God with Boldness through the power of the Holy Spirit!
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 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 2:38-39 NIV
Acts 2 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. It is when the men and women who had been following Jesus as He walked and talked with them on earth were filled to the overflowing with His Holy Spirit. They had known “God with Us/ Emmanuel” now they KNEW (Intimately) God within us — the Holy Spirit.
Rushing wind, tongues of fire, each of the disciples speaking in other tongues, then they went out onto the streets below. They were “declaring the wonders of God.” (Verse 11)
Then Peter stood up to preach with BOLDNESS. Peter, who had a little over a month and a half before denied Jesus three times in the garden as Jesus stood trial and was later led off to be crucified, that same Peter preached! What a difference the presence of the Holy Spirit within the life of a believer makes! The words that the Holy Spirit enabled Peter to speak that day “cut to the heart” (verse 37) of the people. They wanted to know what to do. These words have stood true throughout the centuries of what we should all do when we hear the Holy Spirit calling to us. “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
What a promise! The promise of the Holy Spirit and all the wonderful works that He does in and through a believer were not a one and done deal. “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off— for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Verse 39)
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to give us power. (Acts 1:8) With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we too can live our lives with a new beginning. We do not have to remain in our old patterns of selfishness and sin. We can live with our lives full of the Holy Spirit. May we hunger to know “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14) each and every day! Then we will be empowered to do what the disciples did on the day of Pentecost— KNOW God and make Him known!
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” Acts 1:8 NIV
Acts begins where the Gospel of Luke left off. For 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. Could you imagine what the disciples had witnessed with their own eyes? They had seen Jesus as the soldiers arrested Him in the garden. They had seen Jesus as He was beaten and nailed to a cross. They had seen Him as He breathed His last breath. Then they had seen the empty tomb! They had seen Him, in His risen form, as He showed them the nail prints in His hands. They had shared meals with Him, listened to Him teach them, and then they saw Jesus as He ascended into heaven!
But in all this, Jesus instructed them to wait. Jesus wanted to empower them to be “witnesses.”
Jesus had already told them that the Holy Spirit was going to come. Jesus came to us as “Emmanuel, God with us”, but the Holy Spirit would come to begin something new — God IN us!
Jesus said “… in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…” (verse 5) The disciples obeyed the words He spoke to them. They went to the upper room and were “constantly in prayer.” (Verse 14)
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”Matthew 4:4 NIV
Dear Devoted and Determined Princess Warriors,
Have you ever considered the condition of your spiritual life? Would you describe your spiritual life as one of abundance, thriving in a living and real relationship of oneness with God? Or have you been living a life that is destitute — wanting and needy, never satisfied, never content, without continual comfort, hope, joy or peace? I considered these questions almost 4 years ago, when I first began attending WOW. At that time, I did not know that the most important thing about me was my spiritual heart. I knew I was living without hope, joy, and peace. I was not satisfied nor was I content; however, I did not realize why. I did not realize that the Word of God was an indispensable necessity for my spiritual heart and life. I did not see that I truly could not live or thrive without the Word.
My spiritual condition was similar to a physical condition my daughter, Faith, experienced as a newborn. She did not latch on correctly when nursing. The first two weeks of her life were absolutely miserable for her. I tried to get her to nurse correctly, but she couldn’t. She cried and cried and could not be comforted. When I took her in for her two-week checkup, she had lost two pounds. The doctor instructed me to supplement her feedings with formula. When I did, Faith suddenly became a sweet and peaceful infant. The weight loss stopped, and she began to grow.
Four years ago, I was not latching on to the source of my spiritual food, the Word of God. I was not thriving nor was I surviving well. I thought I could satisfy and fulfill myself with earthly things when I was meant to be connected to God in a love/ faith relationship. Simply put, I was not making room for God’s Word to dwell in my spiritual heart. I was not reading His Word, receiving it, understanding it, believing it, and obeying it. Instead, I was ignoring it, neglecting it, omitting it, cherry picking it, and rejecting it. As a result, I was living a destitute life — empty and hopeless.
In our verse this week Jesus is speaking of such a condition. Jesus tells us that “‘…Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” As my infant daughter needed physical nutrition in order to thrive, you and I need spiritual nutrition. Jesus, the living Word, is “…the true bread from heaven” (John 6:32)! Jesus and every inspired word written in the 66 books of the Bible are the bread, the spiritual food you and I desperately need for nourishment, sustenance, and growth of our spiritual hearts and lives. Every day we need to continually feed on the Word of God that is right and true, sweet as honey, more precious than a thousand pieces of silver and gold. As we make room for the Word in our hearts, we will truly live a life of abundance! But we must choose to “latch on to the Word,” or receive the Word and take it in.
As I consider the words spoken by Jesus in our verse this week, I am contemplating these questions: How hungry am I for His Word? Do I long for His Word more than I long for my next physical meal? Do I take time planning and scheduling when I can eat more of the Bread of Life, God’s Word, and take it into my spiritual heart? Perhaps you wonder the same things. The Word of God is an indispensable necessity for our spiritual hearts and lives. May we truly hunger for “every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
This week’s song is “Your Words” by Third Day featuring Harvest.
“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.” John 8:37 NIV
Dear Princess Warriors,
Last week at WOW we began to learn what it is to have a heart at home in the Word. We learned about the relationship of oneness God desires to have with us. It is man’s true spiritual home where God dwells in man and man dwells in God – attached, connected, united, indivisible, and inseparable. Jesus, the Word made flesh, came to establish this relationship when He came to earth and made His dwelling among us. He died a cruel death on the cross making it possible for the heart of God to once again dwell in the hearts of men as it was in the beginning. God truly desires for us to have our hearts at home in the Word.
The WOW verse for this week is the words of Jesus that He spoke to a group of Jews who did not desire to live in a deep and intimate relationship with the Word. In fact, Jesus states some of the saddest words in scripture with regards to their spiritual hearts: “…you have no room for my word.” These men did not want to receive, understand, believe, and obey the Word. Their spiritual hearts were hard and black… unreceptive. They did not desire to experience their true spiritual home.
This semester at WOW we have been learning this truth: the Word of God is the indispensable necessity of our lives. The words Jesus spoke in our verse this week remind me of how important it is for me to make room for His Word. In order to make room for the Word, I must hold the Word, who is Jesus, in the place of highest honor. I must revere Him as my supreme authority, my Lord. I must live my life in total submission to Him. As I make room for the Word in my spiritual heart, I will trust in the Word having complete confidence in Him resting my mind on His integrity and truthfulness. I will live my life in total dependence on Him. When I make room for the Word in my heart, I will allow His Word to transform my mind and influence my conduct. I will live in total obedience to Him.
As you read the words of our verse this week and reflect upon them, I would encourage you to ask yourself this question: “Am I making room for the Word to be at home in my spiritual heart?” It is His desire to establish a permanent and lasting relationship of oneness, Home, within our hearts. He wants us to live attached, connected, united, indivisible and inseparable from the Word. May our deepest desire be to make room for the Word in our hearts.
Our song this week is “Make Room” by Meredith Andrews featuring Sarah Reeves & Chris McClarney
“And he said to me, ‘Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you.’” Ezekiel 3:10 NIV
The first time I saw my husband, Rich, was at a church I attended during my college years. He and his friend decided to visit that church because they had discovered that there were “a lot of single girls there.” When Rich walked in and sat down right in front of me, I noticed him and thought he was quite handsome. As the congregation was singing, he turned around in the middle of the song and winked at me. All I could think was, “That guy is nothing but a flirt. He’s not serious about God at all.” I was not impressed! However, a couple of weeks later we ended up riding alone in a car for a two-hour trip to Worlds of Fun with a group of friends. As we drove along, we took turns talking and listening to each other. I listened as he shared his thoughts, his feelings, his desires, and his plans for his life. As he talked, I began to see someone very different than that “flirt.” I began to see his heart. The more I listened to him the better I came to know him. During the weeks that followed, we spent more and more time together; and as I came to know him, I began to love him. Eight months after that “first wink” in the middle of a church service, we were married. The rest, as they say, is history.
We are beginning an exciting new year at WOW with a new theme, “A Heart at Home – A Humble, Blameless, Powerful Life in the Word.” Each week you and I have a wonderful opportunity to listen to God as He reveals His heart — His thoughts, His will, His desires, His feelings, and His plans — through our WOW weekly verses. This month our verses are about the heart – not the physical heart but the invisible spiritual heart, the place where we experience God in a personal, intimate relationship of oneness.
We read last week in Jeremiah 24:7 that God gave us a spiritual heart to know Him. Man’s one true purpose is to know God intimately. The best thing in life bringing more joy, delight, and contentment is knowing our God and living in a relationship of oneness. A few years ago, I was not experiencing joy, delight, and contentment in my own life. Why? It was because I was not listening carefully to what God was revealing about Himself. I had intellectual knowledge about God, but I did not know Him intimately nor have a deep personal relationship with Him.
Thankfully, God has helped me to see how much I need to “listen carefully” and to “take to heart all ‘His’ words.” As I have learned to fix my mind on all the words He speaks to me, receiving His Word into my heart, understanding His Word, believing His Word, and obeying His Word my relationship with God has become very close and intimate.
Years ago, I was given an opportunity to be in a close relationship with a young man. As I listened carefully to the words he spoke to me, I came to know that he had a beautiful heart and that I wanted to be with him for the rest of my life. Similarly, our God who speaks to you and me today is sharing who He is and what He is like because He desires an intimate relationship with us. Our role is to come to Him and listen — listen to receive, listen to understand, listen to believe, and listen to obey.
God’s Word is an indispensable necessity to our spiritual hearts. Listening to the Word God speaks is how we experience the very thing we were created for — knowing God and living in a relationship of oneness. May we long to listen to God carefully and truly take to heart every Word He speaks to us!
This week’s song is “I’m Listening” by Chris McClarney featuring Hollyn. May our hearts desire to listen to every word that God speaks to us so we may know Him. His Word is an indispensable necessity to our hearts and our lives!
Today is Mark 8:22-38❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”
In 1991, Steve Camp wrote a song called “Consider the Cost.” One phrase from it’s lyrics has stuck with me through the years. “To give all that you are for all that He is, this is the gospel according to Jesus.” There is so much truth in that statement. In verses 34-37, Jesus plainly states that if we want to be His disciple, we must take up our cross and follow Him. To take up our cross is to let our plans, our will, our thoughts, our desires, die so His can live in us. It is losing our selfish self life, letting it die, so that the life of Jesus can be lived in us. It is as the lyrics of that song proclaimed — “giving all that we are for all that He is.”
A few years ago I was at a decision in my spiritual journey… my way which was producing death, darkness, and destruction, or Jesus way which would require that my way would be nailed to the cross to die. When I chose Jesus way and not my own, dying to myself, I finally experienced peace.
The only way to a vibrant and fulfilled life is to “take up your cross and follow Jesus. Lose your life to gain His!”
Your Love 