The Next Two Years – February 21, 2009

The Next Two Years

Acts 28:30-31

Jim Stephens

02-21-09

 

Scripture:

 

30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.  (Acts 28:30-31 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul was a missionary.  God called Paul to missions ministry because he was more cosmopolitan than most Jews, he had no strong ties to a particular place, he could endure hardship, and had no desire to accumulate wealth and possessions.

 

During the parts of his life we know about, he spent longer periods of time in Antioch, Corinth, and Ephesus.  But he always moved on.  Now he was unavoidably detained.  He had spent two years in prison in Caesarea Philippi awaiting trial, then four or five months of travel, now two years under house arrest in Rome.

 

We know that those two years were productive in terms of Paul’s daily meetings with those who came to visit him and that the message of Christ spread throughout Rome, even making converts in Caesar’s court.

 

But the big thing is the writing.  Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, and Philemon, during his imprisonment in Rome.  Think of the truths revealed in these letter-books and think what life and faith would be without them!

 

Application:

 

There are seasons of life and ministry.  God loves us so much he calls to use our strengths and our gifts in difference-making Spirit-empowered ways.  But God also requires us to do some things that are not as joy-making because he has longer-range and deeper-impact purposes for us.  We must keep functioning and find new ways to use our gifts and abilities when the seasons and circumstances of our lives change.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I’ve never been more aware of the changing of seasons.  Just as the weather and earth and grass and trees respond to the seasons, please help me respond in faith-filled and creative ways to the changing seasons of my life.  Amen.

Seasons – February 14, 2009

Seasons

Acts 21:8-9

Jim Stephens

02-14-09

 

Scripture:

 

8 Then we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy. (Acts 21:8-9 NLT)

 

Observation and Application:

 

Paul and his team were on their way to Jerusalem, stopping to visit the Christ-followers in each port and town.  This was Missionary Paul’s farewell tour.  In each town, with each group of believers, prophecies were given to Paul that he would be imprisoned if he went to Jerusalem, but he was determined and would not be deterred.  When they reached Caesarea, they stayed for a few days at the home of Philip the Evangelist.

 

About five years into the life of the church, rapid growth had required organizational change and a group of Holy Spirit-filled men had been chosen to be church administrators and pastors.  One of them, Stephen, was soon martyred for his faith and another, Philip had to flee Jerusalem.  Philip’s preaching and miracles started a revival in Samaria, then God used him to explain the Good News to an African government official on the Gaza Road.  Philip the Deacon became Philip the Evangelist!  Then God teleported him to Azotus and he preached his way to Caesarea.

 

Here we are twenty-two years later, and it looks as if he never left!  Philip settled in Caesarea, prospered and raised a family there.  He had daughters who were believers in Christ, filled with the Spirit, and gifted in prophecy.  His home was a resting place for Paul and his team as they passed through.  Way to go, Philip!

 

Seasons.  Philip had a church administration and pastor season.  Then he had an itinerant, miracle working evangelist season.  Then he had a “settle down and raise a godly family and be a mature leader in the local community of faith season.”  This little two verse glimpse of Philip’s life in his 50’s or 60’s means a lot to me.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, Thanks for the seasons of my life.  Thanks for the business season, the raising kids season, the planting churches season, the overseas missions season, the caring for pastors and churches season.  I thank you in advance for the next season of my life.  The changing of the seasons is irresistible and I know the next season is in your hand.  May it be unto me according to your word and your plan.  Amen.

Two Years – October 27, 2008

Two Years

Acts 28:30-31

Jim Stephens

10-27-08

 

Scripture:

 

30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.  (Acts 28:30-31 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul was a missionary.  God could call Paul to missions ministry because he was more cosmopolitan than most Jews, he had no strong ties to a particular place, he already traveled to persecute Christ-followers, he could endure hardship and had no desire to accumulate wealth and possessions.

 

During the parts of his life we know about, he had spent longer periods of time in Antioch, Corinth, and Ephesus.  But he always moved on.  Now he was unavoidably detained.  He had spent two years in prison in Caesarea Philippi awaiting trial, then four or five months of travel, now two years under house arrest in Rome.  At his own expense.

 

We know that those two years were productive in terms of Paul’s daily meetings with those who came to visit him and that the message of Christ spread throughout Rome, even making converts in Caesar’s court.

 

But the big thing is the writing.  Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, and Philemon, during his imprisonments in Rome.  Think of the truths revealed in these letter-books and think what life and faith would be without them.  Two years!

 

Application:

 

There are seasons of life and ministry.  God loves us so much he calls us to serve him in ways that we already function to some degree.  He calls us to use our strengths and our gifts in difference-making Spirit-empowered ways.  But God also requires us to do some things that are not as natural or joy-making because he has longer-range and deeper-impact purposes for us.  We must keep functioning and find new ways to use our gifts and abilities when the seasons of our lives change.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I’ve never been more aware of the changing seasons.  The leaves are golden and falling outside my window.  The weather is colder.  But it’s not only the annual cycle of climate that’s changing.  The seasons of my life are changing.  I’ve been in Bend longer than London now.  I’ve lived in this house longer than I’ve ever lived in one house before.  I’ve got grandchildren.  Please help me respond in faith-filled and creative ways to the changing seasons of my life.  Amen.

 

Seasons Of Life – October 25, 2008

Seasons of Life

Acts 21:8-9

Jim Stephens

10-25-08

 

Scripture:

 

8 The next day we went on to Caesarea and stayed at the home of Philip the Evangelist, one of the seven men who had been chosen to distribute food. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who had the gift of prophecy.  (Acts 21:8-9 NLT)

 

Observation:

 

Paul and his traveling companions were making their way steadily toward Jerusalem, stopping to visit the Christ-followers in each port and town they passed through.  This was Missionary Paul’s farewell tour.  In each town, with each group of believers, prophecies were given to Paul that he would be imprisoned if he went to Jerusalem, but he was determined and would not be deterred.

 

When the group stopped in Caesarea Philippi, they stayed for a few days at the home of Philip.  About five years into the life of the church, rapid growth had required organizational growth and a group of Holy Spirit-filled men had been chosen to be church administrators and pastors.  One of them, Stephen, was soon martyred for his faith and another, Philip had to flee Jerusalem.  Philip’s preaching and miracles started a revival in Samaria, then God used him to explain the Good News to an African government official on the Gaza Road.  Then God teleported him to Azotus and he preached his way to Caesarea.  Here we are twenty-two years later, and it looks as if he never left!

 

Philip settled in Caesarea, prospered and raised a family there, had daughters who were believers in Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit as Philip was and who exercised the spiritual gift of prophecy.  His home became a resting place for Paul and his team as they passed through.  Way to go, Philip!

 

Application:

 

Seasons of life.  Philip had a church administration and pastor season.  Then he had an itinerant, miracle working evangelist season.  Then he had a settle down and raise a godly family and be a mature leader in the local community of faith season.  This little two verse glimpse of Philip’s life in his 50’s or 60’s means so much to me.

 

Prayer:

 

Father, I’m looking out my window at the vivid colors of the fall leaves on the trees across the street.  The early morning sun is setting them aflame in orange and yellow.  Beautiful!  The irresistible turning of the season.  Thanks for the seasons of my life.  Thanks for the businessman season, the raising kids season, the planting churches season, the overseas missions season, the caring for pastors and churches season.  And I thank you in advance for the next season of my life.  I know the changing of the seasons is irresistible and I know the next season is in your hand.  May it be unto me according to your word and your plan.  Amen.