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"Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home." He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith (Mark 6:4-6). Mark reminds us that Jesus, being fully human and fully God, was raised by two earthly parents similarly to oth...
Keep Reading"Jesus took the blind man by the handspit on his eyes and put His hands on him and asked, 'Do you see anything?' 'I see people, [but] they look like trees walking around.' Once more, Jesus put His hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." Mark 8:23-25 (emphasis mine) We know Jesus, as God, would never need...
Keep ReadingHe offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit" (Acts 8:19). Clickbait. Hopefully most of us know what that is. It's those little messages, pictures, or stories that pop up, promising some amazing story or miraculous tip. Just click here and all will be revealed. Clickbait seems like a problem...
Keep Reading"Simon the Sorcerer boasted that he was someone great,and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention."Acts 8:9-10 What drives you, motivates you, gives you power to get through the day? Advertisers proclaim it's coffee: American runs on Dunkin'. Athletes are encouraged by the website Fueled By Obsession. Plenty of voices out there stress personal fulfill...
Keep Readingwe were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future.Acts 16:6a I was gifted a Book of the Month subscription for my birthday last year, and it's been so much fun! Each month I get to choose one from five books to have sent to me, and last month I chose one that was outside my typical favored genre. The two main characters were sisters with ext...
Keep ReadingOnce when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finall...
Keep ReadingPeter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captiv...
Keep Reading"Do you understand what you are reading?" Philip asked. (Acts 8:30) A couple months ago, I was involved in a conversation about birthdays with a few people much younger than myself. All of them were under 20 years old. When I told them I was born in 1979, one of them exclaimed, "Wow! You were born in the 1900's?" Nothing makes a guy feel old like being told he's from the...
Keep ReadingNow an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go" So he arose and went. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot. So Philip ran to him (the Ethiopian), and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading? Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him (A...
Keep ReadingEditor's Note: please enjoy two devotionals today, written by the wonderful Heidi and Bella! ******************** Don't Miss the Opportunity! Heidi Lee Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Go south to the roadthe desert roadthat goesdown from Jerusalem to Gaza." So he started out ... The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariotand stay near it." Then Philip ran up ...
Keep ReadingPhilip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" And he said, "Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philipto come up and sit with him (Acts 8:30-31). Has anyone ever asked you to help them understand Jesus' Good News? What was it like? Were you nervous? Excited? Afraid? Maybe all of the abo...
Keep ReadingNow an angel of the Lord said to Philip The Spirit told Philip the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away Philip appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the Gospel until he reached Caesarea [then, about twenty years later, when Paul and company are traveling] we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist [and] his four unmarried da...
Keep ReadingEditor's note: please enjoy two pieces today, written by the ever marvelous Dave and Jessica! ************************************** No More Mr. Nice Guy Dave Patterson "Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk'" (Acts 3:6). Peter and John have me convinced. No more Mr. Nice Guy. I've...
Keep ReadingNow a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by th...
Keep ReadingNow Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he bega...
Keep Reading"Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you."(Peter speaking to a beggar in Acts 3:6) Instead of making a New Year's resolution to "be better," "eat less," or "save more money," a goal likely to be abandoned soon, what if we chose a scripture that declares our purpose in Christ? I have a friend whose front door plaque declares, As for me and my household, we...
Keep ReadingWhen Peter saw [the crowd gathering], he said to them, "Men of Israel,why does this surprise you? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus" (Acts 3:12-13). Living supernaturally begins with living normally. This week's passage (Acts 3:1-20) in our Living Supernaturally series falls nicely into two "scenes" or "acts....
Keep ReadingHe has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind,to set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4: 18). The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a collection of movies and television shows that follow groups of superheroes as they face all sorts of potential world-ending or universe-destroying cataclysms. These heroes are gifted with amazin...
Keep ReadingJesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about himspread through the whole countryside (John 4:14). Jesus was the most Spirit-filled person to walk the earth. The Gospels regularly refer to Jesus as 'filled with the Spirit' and 'led by the Spirit.' However, we Christ-followers can live that same kind of life! We can be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led as...
Keep Reading"The Spirit of the Lord is on meto preach good newsto proclaim freedomto release the oppressed."Luke 4:18 Christmas is over: wrapping paper recycled, ribbons rolled up for another use, gifts put to use. Did you get what you asked for? Did the Jewish people get the Christmas they wanted? With His nativity, Jesus became the long-promised gift of a Messiah, but was He the g...
Keep Reading"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poorto proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blindto set the oppressed freeto proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18,19). Something happened at the gym last week that didn't have anything to do with a feat of strength or show of endurance. While ...
Keep Reading"The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to "(Luke 4:14 ff.). Welcome to a new week, a new month, a new year, and a new series: Living Supernaturally! Since that word supernaturally can get us going in all kinds of directions, let's stay close to this week's passage. This inaugural passage of our new series (Luke 4:14-22) narrates the inauguration ...
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