Wednesday Morning Scripture (Wk47/2022) – Acts 29:13-37

Threat and Release

13 Now when the men of the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) saw the confidence and boldness of Peter and John, and grasped the fact that they were [1]uneducated and untrained [ordinary] men, they were astounded, and began to recognize that they had been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing therewith them, they had nothing to say in reply.

15 But after ordering them to step out of the Council [chamber], they began to confer among themselves,

16 saying, “What are we to do with these men? For the fact that an extraordinary miracle has taken place through them is public knowledge and clearly evident to all the residents of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

17 But to keep it from spreading further among the people and the nation, let us [sternly] warn them not to speak again to anyone in this name.”

18 So they sent for them, and commanded them not to speak [as His representatives] or teach at all in the name of Jesus [using Him as their authority].

19 But Peter and John replied to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must judge [for yourselves];

20 for we, on our part, cannot stop telling [people] about what we have seen and heard.”

21 When the rulers and Council members had threatened them further, they let them go, finding no way to punish them because [of their fear] of the people, for they were all praising and glorifying and honoring God for what had happened;

22 for the man to whom this sign (attesting miracle) of healing had happened was more than forty years old.

23 After Peter and John were released, they returned to their own [people] and reported everything that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 And when they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “O Sovereign Lord [having complete power and authority], it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything that is in them,

25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said,

‘WHY DID THE NATIONS (Gentiles) BECOME ARROGANT AND RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS [against the Lord]?

26 ‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND [to attack], AND THE RULERS WERE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS ANOINTED (the Christ, the Messiah).’

27 For in this city there were gathered together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,

28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined [before the creation of the world] to occur [and so without knowing it, they served Your own purpose].

29 And now, Lord, observe their threats [take them into account] and grant that Your bond-servants may declare Your message [of salvation] with great confidence,

30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders (attesting miracles) take place through the name [and the authority and power] of Your holy Servant and Son Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were meeting together was shaken [a sign of God’s presence]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness and courage.

Sharing Among Believers

32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one [of them] claimed that anything belonging to him was [exclusively] his own, but everything was common property and for the use of all.

33 And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all.

34 There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales

35 and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.

36 Now Joseph, a Levite and native of Cyprus, who was surnamed [2]Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement),

37 sold a field belonging to him and brought the money and set it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 29:13-31 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. Acts 4:13 They had no formal religious training in the rabbinical schools.
  2. Acts 4:36 Barnabas becomes a prominent figure in the book of Acts (9:27; 11:22-30; 13:1-14:28, etc.), and it may be for that reason that Luke briefly mentions him here, telling the reader how Barnabas came to be associated with the apostles.

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Laugh At Fear

Can you hear the hooves of a horse dashing the earth in anticipation of running long and hard into battle?  He is clothed in thunder and strength.  Can a locust frighten him?  No!  Just the sound of his snorting strikes fear in those around him. 

Like the horse going into battle, I am calling you to rejoice in your strength and to mock fear in my name.  I am calling you to see any obstacle in front of you and know that by me it can be overcome. 

Leave fear behind. Set your face like flint and refuse to be moved. Those who know me shall be strong and they will do mighty exploits in my name.

19 “Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with [1]thunder?

20 Can you [2]frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror.

21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms.

22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; nor does he turn back from the sword.

Job 39:19-22 (NKJV)
Footnotes
Job 39:19 Or a mane
Job 39:20 make him spring

“For the Lord God will help Me; therefore I will not be disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed.

Isaiah 50:7 (NKJV)

For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall.

2 Samuel 22:30 (NKJV)

Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall [1]corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

Daniel 11:32 (NKJV)
Footnotes
Daniel 11:32 pollute

#lionbites

Monday Evening Scripture (Wk47/2022) – Psalm 4

Evening Prayer of Trust in God

To the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have freed me when I was hemmed in and relieved me when I was in distress; be gracious to me and hear [and respond to] my prayer.

2 O sons of men, how long will my honor and glory be [turned into] shame? How long will you [my enemies] love worthless (vain, futile) things and seek deception and lies? Selah.

3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and dealt wonderfully with] the godly man [the one of honorable character and moral courage—the one who does right]. The Lord hears and responds when I call to Him.

4 Tremble [with anger or fear], and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed and be still [reflect on your sin and repent of your rebellion].Selah.

5 Offer righteous sacrifices; trust [confidently] in the Lord.

6 Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see some good!” Lift up the light of Your face upon us, O Lord.

7 You have put joy in my heart, more than [others know] when their wheat and new wine have yielded abundantly.

8 In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust.

Psalm 4:1-8 (AMP)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Safe

Climb into the palm of my hand and settle down. Don’t you know I have you? I hold you. I know all things that matter to you and be assured that they matter to me too.

I want you to hand me everything that you carry. Release it all to me in the knowledge that I can hold it all, you don’t have to. Your safety is not found in this world, your bank account, your job, the people around you in your lives. Your safety is found in me.

Activation: Ask Holy Spirit to show you where you are trusting in other areas for your safety and security, release them to him, and submit again to trusting him.

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10 (ESV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Delightful

I delight in you, My children; do you delight in Me?

You are of huge value to Me for I made you in your mother’s womb. Put off those things which give you value in the world’s eyes and begin again to believe the words I say over you for that is the true reality about you.

I am releasing a fresh vision of this two-way delight that will blossom and flourish between Me and My church, both as individuals and corporately.

Activation: Declare the words of the Psalmist, ‘I take delight in the Lord and know that he will give me the desires of my heart.’ (From Psalm 37:4) What gives you delight? People, skills, creation, pure love? Tell others how delightful they are. What about God do you delight in? Constancy, perfect love, strength, His indwelling Spirit? Give thanks to God and work through with him how to increase this. What tarnishes your delight of Him? Bring it to God for his purifying and healing.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;

Psalm 37:23 (NIV)

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Psalm 147:10-11 (NIV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Time to Grow

In this time of growth and maturing of my bride, there is also an expansion in my people that increases your capacity to carry more of me, reflect more of me.
But this doesn’t happen with the flick of a switch, it’s a process which involves learning, character building, and even enduring.

There needs to be stretching in order for growth, there is pulling and pushing, there is a wrestle. But I am with you to help you stand in my strength through this time and remind you that it will pass.

You will come out victorious on the other side, better able to steward the more that I have for you.

Activation: Ask Holy Spirit to identify any areas where you need to submit to the process of growth, or where you need to learn to partner with Him in this enlarging place.

Spiritual Fullness in Christ

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,

7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Colossians 2:6-7 (NIV)

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

Isaiah 54:2 (NIV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full.

John 10:10 (NIV)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Yes and Amen

I AM your God. I never lie or make promises without fulfilling them. I will complete and perfect the work that I have spoken over you, so don’t let your confidence be stolen. Revisit the areas you were trusting Me for at the beginning of the year but you let go of due to the cares of the world. As the end of the year approaches, remember that it is never too late for Me to complete and perfect that which I started. I AM the God who makes a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Trust Me with your whole heart once again; partner with My ways and you will not be disappointed.

Activation: Revisit the prayers you’ve made but are still waiting on. Ask God to remind you of the promises you have let go of over the months or even years and write them out again, repenting for ever doubting Him. Reclaim them as yours, stand on His word, and thank Him for the manifestation of all that He has already done!

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but has proved to be “Yes” in Him [true and faithful, the divine “Yes” affirming God’s promises].

20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:19-20 (AMP)

Wednesday Morning Scripture (Wk46/2022) – 2 Corinthians 1:12-24

Paul’s Integrity

12 This is our [reason for] proud confidence: our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [in general], and especially toward you, with pure motives and godly sincerity, not in human wisdom, but in the grace of God [that is, His gracious lovingkindness that leads people to Christ and spiritual maturity].

13 For we write you nothing other than what you read and understand [there is no double meaning in what we say]. And I hope you will [accurately] understand [divine things] until the end;

14 just as you have [already] partially understood us, [and one day will recognize] that you can be proud of us just as we are of you, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

15 It was with this confidence that I planned at first to visit you, so that you might receive twice a token of grace;

16 that is, [I wanted] to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and [then] to come back to you [on my return] from Macedonia, and have you send me on my way to Judea.

17 So then, was I indecisive or capricious when I was [originally] planning this? Or the things I plan, do I plan [1]in a self-serving way like a worldly man, ready to say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no” [at the same time]?

18 But [as surely as] God is faithful and means what He says, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No” [at the same time].

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but has proved to be “Yes” in Him [true and faithful, the divine “Yes” affirming God’s promises].

20 For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.

21 Now it is God who establishes and confirms us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and who has anointed us [empowering us with the gifts of the Spirit];

22 it is He who has also put His seal on us [that is, He has appropriated us and certified us as His] and has given us the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts as a pledge [like a security deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promise of eternal life].

23 But I call on God as my soul’s witness, that it was to spare you [pain and discouragement] that I did not come again to Corinth—

24 not that we rule [like dictators] over your faith, but rather we work with you for [the increase of] your joy; for in your faith you stand firm [in your strong conviction that Jesus of Nazareth—the Messiah—is the Son of God, through whom we obtain eternal salvation].

2 Corinthians 1:12-24 (AMP)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:17 Lit according to the flesh.