Blog Archives - Way Anchor Christian Travel

Acts 18-20

11/20/2019

Reading for Wednesday November 20, 2019
Acts 18-20

Acts 19: 13-16
Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded

They failed because they were not coming from a place of faith. They were experimenting. If they had faith, they would have entrusted Jesus to exorcise the demon. By saying; Jesus whom Paul preacheth, they show that they really didn't expect success. So the result was as expected.

Acts 16-17

11/18/2019

Reading for Tuesday November 19, 2019
Acts 16-17

Acts 17: 22-24
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

The Athenians wanted to cover all their bases, so they had an altar to any god that they may have overlooked. Paul used this to say "hey I know a god you've overlooked, the only God. The God who created everything.

Acts 14-15

11/18/2019

Reading for Monday November 18, 2019
Acts 14-15

Acts 15: 41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Paul's second missionary journey was to confirm the churches. I think of missionary work and evangelical work as reaching out to those who have never heard the word, and appealing to nonbelievers, but Much of Paul's work was confirming those who already believed.

Acts 11-13

11/17/2019

Reading for Sunday November 17, 2019
Acts 11-13

Acts 11: 1-4 & 18
And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

The disciples had believed all their lives that the Messiah would someday come to redeem the Jews. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven he gave the disciples their mission: to go and make disciples of all nations. While they were open to the idea after Peter's experience with Cornelius, you would think that they would have understood it after Jesus had gave them this instruction.

Acts 14-15

11/17/2019

Reading for Monday November 17, 2019
Acts 14-15

Acts 15: 5 & 8-11
But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Jesus gave us two commandments: Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. Of course, it's hard to follow those two commands if your breaking the original 10.

Acts 9-10

11/16/2019

Reading for Saturday November 16, 2019
Acts 9-10

Acts 10: 34-35 & 44-45
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Jews were God's chosen people. They still are, but all who seek God through the sacrifice of Jesus will receive the Holy Spirit to walk in the light on the narrow path.

Acts 7-8

11/15/2019

Reading for Friday November 15, 2019
Acts 7-8

Acts 8: 27-36
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

At this time, there wasn't the Bible. There were only assorted Old Testament scriptures. The Ethiopian wanted to learn about God, but needed somebody to teach him. For the most part the disciples were not seeking to convert pagans as much as they were sharing the good news that the long-awaited messiah had come. Jews knew the Old Testament. As we evangelize today, we cannot convert atheists, but we can guide those who are seeking a teacher. We can pray for the Holy Spirit to come to those who are not seeking God, and return to them when they are seeking guidance.

Acts 4-6

11/14/2019

Reading for Thursday November 14, 2019
Acts 4-6

Acts 6: 8-15
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

The idea that angels have angelic faces came about long after the Bible. In the Bible, angels are soldiers and messengers. So when the council thought that Stephen's face had been that of an angel. I believe that it was that of a messenger. Jesus told the disciples to not worry about what they would say to defend themselves when they are brought before rulers and the authorities, for the Holy Spirit will provide it for them in that very hour. (Matthew 12: 11-12). Perhaps Stephen had the face of an angel, because at that very hour a messenger angel sent from the Holy Spirit was providing the dialog.

Acts 1-3

11/13/2019

Reading for Wednesday November 13, 2019
Act 1-3

Acts 1: 7-11
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, [1] after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Until we see Jesus descend out of a cloud, we should not believe any person who claims to be him. Our mission until then is to witness unto Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.

John 19-21

11/12/2019

Reading for Tuesday November 12, 2019
John 19-21

John 19: 41-42
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Jesus was laid in a tomb, or sepulchre, and a big stone was rolled in front to seal the tomb. What image do you have in your mind? Is it a cave? I see a cave. The actual place where Jesus was laid is unknown. There are a couple of places that make the claim. It could be one of these places, but I think that it is probably not. Regardless, Jesus is not there anymore, He has risen.