EVANGELISM

Today’s Reading: Acts 8-9

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).

The Port of Joppa was a busy place during Bible times and still is today.

Key Verse: Acts 9:5

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting…”

What a team of the Lord’s servants in today’s reading! Stephen’s broken body is buried. Philip heads out to evangelize. Peter and John join him in Samaria. The Ethiopian treasurer heads home to witness for Christ. Saul of Tarsus is converted and boldly witnesses for Christ. At Joppa (present day Jaffa), Dorcas is raised from the dead as a witness for Christ. Aeneas of Lydda (present day Lod where the International Airport is located today) is healed. What is the result of all this? Exponential growth of the Church. “Multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip” (8:6). “The churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria…were multiplied” (9:31). “All at Lydda, and Sharon…turned to the Lord” (9:35). In Joppa, “Many turned to the Lord” (9:42). God’s purposes have not changed. God’s power has not changed. Let us move out in bold faith to see the same happen today. Amen!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, we have a word today that I don’t find in the Bible. It’s “retirement.” You are filling us with new energy as we do this blog daily. Show me, and all who read this, how we can be a part of the dynamic growth of Your Churches. Amen! and Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I believe in and seek to put into practice outreach ministry beyond the church walls. In villages where I was a Pastor, I sought to take the lead in mobilizing some members of the congregation to visit every home. We would ask if there was a need for which we could pray. We would inquire about children for Sunday School or teens for the youth activities. In the large cities this was more challenging, but we would stake out areas to visit. I trust that I will have the health, strength, determination and the blessing of my Pastor to keep doing this. By gently asking about needs for prayer, I’ve never been turned down. People know when they are cared for, not like the door-to-door cults that try to indoctrinate people by visiting them to add points to their religious record.

Yours for consistent growth, early church style, in Jesus’ Church today,

David