ROME
Today’s Reading: Acts 28
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).
“But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand…But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.” Acts 28:3, 5
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Acts 28:8
And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.
Throughout the centuries, divine healings have been instrumental in turning people’s attention toward Jesus. Firstly, in today’s reading, we read of God’s physical protection for Paul from an always fatal snake bite, and secondly, the immediate recovery of Publius. We should never hesitate to pray for people’s healings. Then, share Jesus as Saviour and Lord! (MOST IMPORTANT!!!)
Believers in Jesus from Rome came to meet Paul. They may have been secret believers because of persecution. The main Jewish community seemed to know little of Paul’s message. Oral history tells us that after two years of house arrest in Rome, Paul was released and went to Spain where he established churches. Some suggest that he may have gone to Britain also. His final arrest back in Rome brought his death under Nero. After Paul’s first visit to Rome, Luke, our historian, disappears from the scene. His work was done and done very well.
Tomorrow, back to Deuteronomy. Let us not give up on this systematic tour of the Scriptures. Amen!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, grant that I may bring people to You, regardless of the cost, as Jesus and Paul did. I’m trusting You for the grace necessary to be true to Your calling. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I spent a great deal of time in Spain before and during World Expo ’92 in Seville. Crossroads sponsored a pavilion there where more than 1,000,000 people visited our witness for Jesus. More than 53,000 precious souls made first-time recorded decisions to give their lives fully to Jesus. Each one signed up for a Bible correspondence study in their native language and were followed up around the world by Scripture Union. While there, I visited places where Paul first preached the Good News of Jesus. Even though the Bible does not share that Paul was in Spain, you could never tell the Spanish people that Paul was not there! Monuments testify to this fact.
I asked for the picture of the serpent seen above. In our reading, the venom could not destroy Paul. Revelation 12:9 speaks of “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” You may want to read that entire section (click here). Satan has been defeated through the Cross of Christ. As Paul did literally, we do spiritually. Shake the serpent off and into the fires of Hell. He cannot hurt those who put their trust in Jesus. Check out again the first verses of today’s reading, and do to the serpent as Paul did!
Yours for effectively winning people to Jesus,
David
Shaking off the serpent–definitely do not like snakes or the venom of Satan. Last night on In Touch Ministries, Charles Stanley said something wise and profound.
Choose TRUTH over FEELINGS and God will revolutionize your life. Amen, saints. We can do it when we claim Christ as our Sword and Saviour. Stand tall in Him today, and be blessed beyond measure, for He loves you so!!!
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Psalm 80:19 ESV
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Live At The Helix In Dublin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw38pGhPXIk
when a person is telling a story and you never lie; you will never have to worry about repeating the story over and over because it is not a lie……this was wisdom from a friend…
the statement TRUTH over FEELINGS reminded me of this thought,
Blessings Beverlee Kay……
Beautiful music! Celtic women are a favourite of mine. Some people attend church and are very good living but don’t accept the Bible as “living Truth”. They say it’s allegorical. Talked to one last night. How can Job be in the belly of a whale and live, etc. The same way God closed the mouth of hungry lions in Daniel’s den! NOTHING is impossible with God. Lord, in Jesus Name, open the eyes & understanding of that person. Thank You Lord.
Amen, Doreen!!!
I agree Doreen, amen to that prayer.
Thank you all for praying for my cousin, Arthur. The doctors are trying to keep him comfortable by administering morphine.
I pray that he will cry out to God, repent of his sins and be saved! Unfortunately he lives in another country so I’m unable to visit and pray with him. So thankful that there is no distance with God. He hears our prayers wherever we are. I’m praying that God uses this situation to bring other family members to Himself!
We’ve come to the end of our reading through the book of Acts. The apostles did not have it easy. However, they remained faithful to their calling. May we also be faithful to ours!
May the anointing and blessings of Our God be upon each and everyone of you!
Continue to pray for your cousin, Arthur, Luisa.
Amen. The apostles were faithful and are a tremendous example for us. Am blessed by the Apostle Paul’s declaration that for the hope of Israel, he is bound with his chain. Had a clear understanding of his calling and performed it. Have a full schedule today and it’s a cold but sunny day. Blessings on you.
Bless you, Ger. Has really warmed up, here.
Looking forward to our next ‘book’ in this study.
So sad to see Christmas being phased out as a religious holiday and representation of the birth of our heavenly Saviour. Dr. Jim Denison had a good quote this a.m.:
“William Booth (1829-1912), the founder of the Salvation Army, predicted: “The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.”
He was tragically right about our culture. But he doesn’t have to be right about our souls.
We can resist the pagan worldview Smith describes. We can say with Mary, “I am the servant of the Lord” (Luke 1:38). We can join the wise men in giving the Child our best (Matthew 2:1-11). We can make Jesus the King of our hearts and Lord of our lives.
In fact, we must–for our sake and for the sakes of everyone we influence. Christians cannot expect our culture to be more Christian than we are.
So let’s remember: The Christmas story is not about presents but the ever-present God. It is about Immanuel, “which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:23) and is now “God in us.””
Amen, Lynda.
dear saints!
we pray Lord that You would heal Arthur completely, give him top excellent good health! Bless his family and all those who know and love him and want him well, Arthur needs a miracle Lord, thank you Lord for Your healing powers. IJNWPA
WE MUST REMEMBER ONE VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT IN OUR LIVES!
the devil is with us ALL the time,he is beside, behind,in front of us ALL the time;
we must rebuke him every hour and pray the Lord’s Prayer immediately! of course that nasty devil pushes back BUT WE HAVE GOD STANDING WITH US AND HE IS THE VICTOR OVER ALL; GOD HAD A PLAN FOR OUR SALVATION AND FOR EVERY MAN,WOMAN,CHILD ON THIS EARTH.
GOD SENT HIS SON TO DIE ON THE CROSS, BUT, GOD RAISED HIS SON JESUS CHRIST FROM THE GRAVE. HE WAITED 3 DAYS TO DO THIS ACT;JESUS WAS DEAD, BUT HE IS NOW ALIVE AND HE IS RIGHT HERE, ALL THE TIME,HE SAYS IN HIS WORD HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US AND HE MEANS THIS STATEMENT.
GOD CAN BE TRUSTED ALL THE TIME!
Yes I pray that people will CRY out to God for mercy: that they will cry out and say Yes Lord I have sinned against you and all people, I am sorry, please forgive me.
The AMAZING GRACE is that God forgives us immediately! This is the message of Christmas and Easter, THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED from God the Father.TY Lord, we can’t say that enough times, TY for loving us with Your unconditional love, TY Lord, amen amen amen
I truly believe that when people cry out to God for His Help that peace would come into their lives and their communities; God hears, sees and knows all. He knows what our hearts say; let us all say Come Lord Jesus, come into our lives,we are sorry for the sins we have committed, please forgive us!
I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART THAT THERE WOULD BE GRAND CELEBRATIONS HAPPENING, AND ISN’T THAT FUN?
Blessings
Agreeing with David’s prayer: Praise God for steadfast people in the Lord, like Paul!! And I would say, also David; the many souls that were won to Jesus through his ministry, especially through such ministry as World Expo 92/
A Great picture of the venomous creature; Praise God He is Greater than our enemy the devil and his cohorts!!
“Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever; He sought me and bought me with His Redeemed blood. He loved me ‘ere I knew Him, and all my love is to Him. He plunged me to victory with His Redeeming blood!!”
Be blessed this day all you saints!