TAKE HEART
Suggested Reading: Acts 27
(click scripture link to read online)
Kavala is the site of ancient Neapolis where Paul's boat landed on his way to Philippi.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Acts 27:22 & 24b
And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship…….God has granted you all those who sail with you.
From time to time throughout 35 years of the daily 100 Huntley Street television ministry, we have featured “household salvation” based on Paul’s statement to the Philippian prison warden, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). As people began to pray with greater fervency for their loved ones, miracles have taken place. We have received reports of entire families accepting Jesus as their Saviour, and others where every week a new family member has come into Christ’s Kingdom. Now, in today’s reading, we see people being saved in a physical way. The same God who keeps His promises is at work. In a very real sense, “God has granted you all those who sail with you” (27:24b). It is our responsibility to live a Christ-like life, to speak to our family members with wisdom and love, and to pray continually for them. We must never, never give up. We can expect God to protect and save each one.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I pray for the protection and salvation of each of my family members by name… “_________”, and also for those I’ve spiritually adopted (names). I also pray for all others who “sail” with me. Keep each one in Your love and by Your power. Save each one. In Your name I pray, Lord Jesus. Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
At the close of thousands of letters I have written, I would have these words, “May the Lord keep you in His love and by His power. In Christ’s love and service, David Mainse.” I still do that because I believe with all my heart that there is a personal loving God who is “Not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). When I knew Norma-Jean was expecting, I began to pray fervently for the salvation of each precious little one. These prayers continue to this day. It would be the greatest tragedy, having been responsible for helping to bring my children into this world, for them to be lost eternally. How I rejoiced when they were still small, to hear them pray to receive Jesus into their hearts. I know that their names were written in “the book of life” (Rev. 21:27). As I type this, I’ve taken the time to read, for additional scriptural input, the entire last chapter in the Bible, Revelation 22. Also, several times, as I’ve prayed this morning, the old hymn “Rescue the Perishing” has come from my lips. Ron knows how to find these old hymns on the Internet. I’ll ask him to do this before this is posted (OK Dad, the link is HERE -Ron).
Yours for the salvation of our families and other loved ones,
David
Thank you for your encouragement David. There is nothing more important than the salvation of our lost relatives and friends. In my case, I am surrounded by those who have bought into dead religion and empty philosophies such as new age, numerology and secularism. As we know, there is only one answer for their lives and that is Jesus Christ. As David mentioned, we must take our loved ones and friends to the Lord in prayer and to be a witness through our lives. We can only do our part, It is God’s love that changes the heart.
I can relate to your words this morning Scott…my family are walking ‘other’ paths too or are complacent, thinking because they once accepted Jesus and were baptized, that is all they need to do. I just keep crying out to the Lord for His Spirit to complete the work He began in them and that ember within will be brought to life and burn brightly for Him. The world holds such powerful attractions but I know Who has the ultimate power to help them overcome. We need to just remain faithful in praying.
John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone. I also pray for those who believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. may they also be in us so the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you loved me.”
Thank you David for your encouragement. This chapter and verses of Scripture are especially meaningful to me. The Lord gave them to me when I was broken-hearted in the city of Peterborough, Ontario 33 years ago. Now you have recited them again as the key verse. I receive them as truly from the Lord. It is quite a story. Since then, I have seen his promises come to pass and hope to see them all. Yesterday, I prepared to see these verses. Surely, our God is a faithful God. God bless you for being in tune to hear the voice of God. The whole blog is wonderful! Amen!!!
Thank you for your prayer I will pray that for my family and always
I have prayed for my family but never fervency before
Thank you Renold for the hymn
David you are in my prayer
God Bless
Lianne Hogg
What an encouragement this morning!!!
On a “post it note” I wrote the names of my grandchildren, and this note is placed by 2 Peter 3: 9. So I will never forget to intercede for them!!
Thank you for the reminder not to grow weary in our prayers.
Thankyou !
I would just like to encourage you and all your readers who have way ward family members. My cousin just went home to heaven after more than 40 years of being away form the Lord. As a child he professed to know the Lord but over the years did not live it. In the last year he came back to the Lord even though very very ill.
God is faithful, no one is out of the reach of God. Do not give up on your friends and family
Such an incredible post, today. Revelation 22 is one of my favourite passages. The ‘River of Life’, is so meaningful. I relish in the words of the Angel, given to John. Thank you, David, for the reminder to pray for our family members, so that they might be saved.
Thank you for your teaching and sharing – always so encouraging. When we became Christians years go, relatives on both sides (who were religious) turned against us which was so hurtful. We resorted to prayer and pleaded with God to “open their eyes to the truth” and draw each one to Himself, which over time He did. Many years later one brother-in-law commented ” I feel so bad for wasting so many years when we could have had wonderful fellowship with you”. Most of the family have passed away but they did accept Christ as their Saviour – a few prayed just before they died. God does love everyone and wants everyone to turn to Him, and it’s encouraging to know He loves our loved ones even more than we do, and only He can change their hearts. May God continue to heal you and give you His peace and strength.. Marianne
Oh Marianne you have spoken my heart . David ,you and all the bloggers have encouraged my heart. Blessings and prayers to you all.
Thank you David and dear bloggers for your encouraging words. It is so comforting to know that we are many praying for salvation of our family,friends…
God bless you all
Thank you Marianne for your encouragement.We must never give up!Merry Christmas to you!
Those old hymns always strike a chord, I think, in the older generation. ( I’m 80) Frequently when I’m having my time with the Lord I’ll experience an overwhelming desire to sing one of the old hymns or gospel songs I grew up with. Many times it’s a song of assurance or worship like “Praise to the Lord the Almighty the King of Creation”.
How timely the reminder today that not one of my family be missing in the final count. (Should we sing “Will the Circle be Unbroken”?) Because I am a covenant child of God my household is blessed, and I decree that “as for me & my house we will serve the Lord”.
When I clicked onto chapt.27 today Acts 1&2 came up instead. I was wondering if anyone else experienced this as well? This has never happened before.
I have a few resistors in my family too!! I hope they will surrender and come to the Lord, before it is too late!!
My prayers are always with you and your family and also Huntley Street.
Nancy