June 29
________________________________________
PAUL’S JOURNEY TO MACEDONIA
A poem by ILMA
When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the believers and encouraged them
Then he started for Macedonia and heartened believers in all towns he passed by
He travelled down to Greece where he stayed for three months
Then he prepared to sail back to Syria but discovered a plot so he went back.
Several men traveled with him namely Sopater, Aristarchus and Secundus
Gaius, Timothy, Tychicus, Trophimus from the province of Asia joined him too
Then he went ahead and waited at Troas and after Passover, they boarded a ship
They headed to Philippi in Macedonia and five days later joined them in Troas.
The first day, they gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper
Paul was preaching to them and the next day, he talked till midnight
Then Eutychus, sitting on the windowsill, became very drowsy
Finally, he fell sound asleep and dropped three stories to his death.
Paul went down, bent over him and took him in his arms
“Don’t worry,” he said “he’s alive!”, then they all went back upstairs
They shared in the Lord’s Supper and ate together and he continued
The young man was taken home alive and all were greatly relieved.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
Meanwhile, the young man was taken home alive and well, and everyone was greatly received. – Acts 20:12
Read: Acts 20
Paul’s journey to Macedonia happened just after the riot in Ephesus. We still see how he continued to encourage believers and preached the Good News. In this journey, he miraculously brought back to life Eutychus who fell from the windowsill.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What kind of a disciple Paul was?
• Would you go all the way to risk your life as a believer just to preach the Good News?
Monthly Archives: June 2019
RIOT IN EPHESUS Poem Devotional
June 28
________________________________________
RIOT IN EPHESUS
A poem by ILMA
When the story of Paul’s miracles and casting out demons spread in Ephesus
A solemn fear descended on the city and Jesus’ name was greatly honored
Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices
A number of them who was doing sorcery burned their books in public.
Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia
Then he decided to go to Rome and sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia
About that time serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way
It began with Demetrius the silversmith who made shrines of goddess Artemis.
Demetrius kept many craftsmen busy and he called them together
He told them that wealth comes from this business of doing shrines
He told many that Paul convinced people that their handmade gods are fake
He also convinced that the goddess Artemis will be robbed of her prestige.
The Ephesians were angered and started to declare how great Artemis is
Everyone rushed to the amphitheatre and dragged Paul’s companions
Paul wanted to go in too but the believers warned him how dangerous it is
Some friends of Paul sent him a message begging him not to risk his life.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
Paul wanted to go in too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. – Acts 19:30
Read: Acts 19
When Paul reached Ephesus, the Holy Spirit was with him so he was able to do a lot of miracles. Because Ephesus was a city of idols and the Ephesians worship Artemis as their goddess, there were shrines everywhere in the city. Paul preaching about the Good News have stirred so much opposition in the people of Ephesus and threatened to kill Paul and his followers. Paul wasn’t scared of anything but the other believers warned him.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Has God given you courage amidst opposition and antagonism to preach the Good News?
PAUL IN EPHESUS Poem Devotional
June 27
________________________________________
PAUL IN EPHESUS
A poem by ILMA
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled until he reached Ephesus
He found several believers and asked if they received the Holy Spirit
And they said that they haven’t heard who is this person he is mentioning
He also asked the people what kind of baptism they have experienced.
They told Paul that they have received John’s baptism
He reminded them that John talked about the baptism of Jesus
As soon as the people heard it, they were baptized in his name
The Holy Spirit came upon them when Paul laid his hands on them.
Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next months
He argued persuasively about the kingdom of God but some were stubborn
They rejected his message publicly speaking against the Way
Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him.
He held the daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus for the next two years
The people throughout the province of Asia both Greeks and Jews heard the truth
God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracle even with objects he touched
Some Jews tried to do what Paul did, but was attacked by the evil spirits themselves.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” – Acts 19:15
Read: Acts 19
Ephesus was considered the second largest populated area of the Roman Empire. In the first century B.C. the city had a population of more than 250,000, making Ephesus the second largest city in the known world. It was famous for possessing a Temple dedicated to a pagan goddess named Diana. Wasn’t it amazing to know that Paul did many unusual miracles in a city where they were idolizing other gods? Many people became believers.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think God used Paul to do unusual miracles in a city where much idolatry and unbelief prevailed?
PAUL IN CORINTH Poem Devotional
June 26
________________________________________
PAUL IN CORINTH
A poem by ILMA
When Paul left Athens and went to Corinth, he met a Jew named Aquila
He was born in Pontus and had recently arrived with his wife Priscilla
They had left Italy when Claudius Caesar deported all Jews from Rome
Paul lived and worked with them for they were tentmakers just as he was.
Each Sabbath, Paul went to the synagogue to convince both Jews and Greeks
After Silas and Timothy came, all his time was spent preaching the word
Paul taught and testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah
But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook the dust off.
Then he left and went to the home of Titius Justus who was a Gentile
He worshiped God and lived next door to the synagogue
Crispus, the synagogue leader and all his household were believers
Many others in Corinth who heard Paul also became followers.
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him
“Don’t be afraid. Speak out. Don’t be silent For I am with you
No one will harm you, many people in the city belong to me.”
Paul stayed there for the next year and a half teaching God’s word.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
Don’t be afraid. Speak out. Don’t be silent. For I am with you and no one will attack and harm you. – Acts 18:9-10
Read: Acts 18
In this part of Paul’s journey, he was assured by God that he didn’t have to fear any resistance or opposition. His Spirit was always with him and Paul was comforted about the believers in that place. Because of such confirmation from the Lord himself, he stayed in that place for a year and a half, preaching the word of God with much confidence.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Have you ever had such positive reassurance when God gives you a new assignment in your life?
PAUL PREACHES IN ATHENS
June 25
________________________________________
PAUL PREACHES IN ATHENS
A poem by ILMA
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was troubled by the idols around
He went to the synagogue to reason with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles
Paul relentlessly spoke daily to whoever was present in the public square
He had a debate with some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers.
When Paul told them about Jesus and his resurrection, they questioned him
They asked him to tell them about this new teaching as they are into latest ideas
Paul addressed and spoke to them their religiosity displayed in their many shrines
“One of the altar’s inscription said ‘To an Unknown God’. This is my God.
Paul continues “He is the God who made the world and everything in it
Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples
Human hands can’t serve his needs-for he has nothing of those needs
He himself gives life and breath to everything and satisfies every need.”
When they heard Paul about the resurrection, some laughed in contempt
Others said, “We want to hear more about this later,” and some became believers
Among those who joined Paul and became believers were Dionysius, from the council
Another woman named Damaris and others with her also became believers.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him-though he is not far from any one of us. – Acts 17:27
Read: Acts 17
In this account, we witness Paul’s boldness to address idolatry in Athens. He wasn’t intimidated by the people who laughed at his preaching when he talked about the resurrection of Jesus. He continued to make Jesus and the God he loves to be known to these people who was all so full of themselves.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Can you be bold enough when people resist the truth that you are presenting to them?
PAUL PREACHING IN TESSALONICA Poem Devotional
June 24
________________________________________
PAUL PREACHING IN TESSALONICA
A poem by ILMA
Paul and Silas then travelled through towns and came to Tessalonica
As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue three Sabbaths in a row
Paul used the Scriptures to reason with the people and explained prophecies
The apostle proved that the Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead.
Some of the Jews who listened were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas
The God-fearing Greek men and quite a few prominent women joined as well
Some of the Jews were jealous so they asked some troublemakers to form a mob
They started a riot and attacked the home of Jason, looking for them there.
Not finding Paul and Silas there, they dragged out Jason and some believers
Jason was brought before the city council and told the crowd he caused trouble
They convinced the people that Jason allowed Paul and Silas in his home
They accused Jason of treason against Caesar because he was loyal to Jesus.
The people of the city as well as the city council were thrown into turnoil
So the officials forced Jason and the other believers to post bond and was released
That night, the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea and went to the synagogue
The people of Berea were more open-minded and they listened to the teachings.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue for the service and for three Sabbaths in a row, he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. – Acts 17:2
Read: Acts 17
When the apostles came to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas met much resistance from the people in the Jewish synagogue but they used Scriptures to reason with the people. Out of envy, some of the Jews plotted to shoo the apostles away.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is it hard for people to accept the Good News?
• What do you do to convince someone of your belief as a Christian?
• How can envy and jealousy hinder us from knowing the truth?
PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON Poem Devotional
June 23
________________________________________
PAUL AND SILAS IN PRISON
A poem by ILMA
One day Paul and Silas were going down to the place of prayer
They met a slave girl who had a spirit that made her tell the future
She earned a lot of money for her masters by doing fortune telling
She shouted to the crowd “These men of God will tell you how to be saved.”
This went on for days until Paul got so annoyed and turned to the demon in her
“I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her” was Paul’s words
And then it left her but her masters were angry and dragged the apostles and said
“The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!”, they shouted to the officials.
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas and they were beaten and imprisoned
The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape and their feet were clamped
The prisoners heard Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns to God about midnight
Suddenly, a massive earthquake shook the prison to its foundations and doors opened.
Chains of every prisoner fell off and the jailer woke up to see prison doors wide open
He assumed the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword to kill himself
Paul stopped him and reassured the jailer that they were all there and he was shocked
He fell down before Paul and asked the apostles what he needed to do to be saved.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
What must I do to be saved? – Acts 16:30
Read: Paul and Silas had been doing miracles while they preached the Good News of our salvation. It is amazing to hear them confront demons and they run away from them because of the presence of God’s Spirit in them. Those prisoners who witnessed God’s power in opening the prison doors and unchaining them must have turned them to God.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What does it take for us to be able to bring people to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?
• Why was the fortune teller servant girl’s master angered when the girl’s demon was sent out of the girl?
PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY Poem Devotional
June 22
________________________________________
PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY
A poem by ILMA
Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra where Timothy was
Timothy’s mother was a Jewish believer but his father was Greek
Timothy was well though of by believers, so Paul asked him to join them
In deference to the Jews of the area, he asked him to be circumcised.
Then they went from town to town, instructing believers to follow
So, the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew
Next, Paul and Silas traveled through Phrygia and Galatia
The Holy Spirit prevented them from preaching in Asia.
Paul had a vision about a man from Macedonia pleading him to come
So, they decided to leave for Macedonia at once to preach the Good News
On a Sabbath, they went to a riverbank hoping to preach at the women
They met Lydia who was purple cloth merchant and accepted Paul’s teaching.
Lydia’s whole household were baptized and invited them to be her guests
“If you agree that I a a true believer, come and stay at my home” was her words
Then Paul met a slave girl who was earning money from fortune telling
Paul rebuked and asked the evil spirit to come out of her and it left her.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
“If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed. – Acts 16:15
Read: Acts 16
In this second missionary Journey of Paul and Silas, we witness the proof of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their mission. They were led by the Spirit of God to go or not to proceed in a place and they followed the Spirit’s lead. We meet an extraordinary generous and hospitable woman named Lydia who became a believer and opened her house to the apostles.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why is hospitality an important gift of the Spirit? What does it make others feel?
CONCERNS ABOUT GENTILE CONVERTS Poem Devotional
June 21
________________________________________
CONCERNS ABOUT GENTILE CONVERTS
A poem by ILMA
While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men began to teach
“Unless you are circumcised as required by law of Moses, you cannot be saved.”
Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, and went to Jerusalem to the council
When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were both welcomed by the whole church.
All the apostles including the elders were eager to hear from Paul and Barnabas
They reported everything God had done through them and all the miracles
Some believers from the sect of the Pharisees insisted that Gentile converts obey
They required them to follow the law of Moses to be circumcised.
The apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue of circumcision
After a long discussion, Peter reminded them that the Gentiles converted
He said the God knows people’s hearts and that they were given the Holy Spirit
Peter posed this question “Why are you now challenging God by burdening them?”
Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul what God had done to the Gentiles
James stood up and reminded them of the prophet’s vision on the rest of humanity
“And so my judgement is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles converts”
They decided to send a letter to the Gentile believers to remind them of God’s laws.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. – Acts 15:19
Read: Acts 15
So many laws of Moses were stipulated by the Jewish leaders that enslaved them. They are so strict that it was difficult for many new believers to actually follow them. The apostles had the Holy Spirit in them so that they see how these laws especially the circumcision might make it difficult for the Gentiles to follow through their conversion.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• What laws have you been strictly adhering to that hinders you from doing things out of love instead of just following rules?
• Why are the Pharisees so legalistic and making it hard for new believers?
PAUL AND BARNABAS TURNS DOWN IDOLATRY Poem Devotional
June 20
________________________________________
PAUL AND BARNABAS TURNS DOWN IDOLATRY
A poem by ILMA
While they were at Lystra, Paul and Barnabas met a man with crippled feet
This man had been that way from birth so he never walked before
As this crippled man listened to the preaching, Paul that he had enough faith
So, he looked at this man straight in the eye and told him to “Stand up!”
The man jumped at his feet and started walking and many witnessed it
The crowd shouted in their local dialect, “These men are gods in human form!”
They decided Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and Paul was Hermes
The priests of the temple of Zeus came to bring offerings and wreath of flowers.
When the apostles heard what happened, they tore their clothing in dismay
They ran out among the people and shouted “We are mere humans!”
They reminded them that they came to bring the Good News to them
God wanted them to turn from all idols and that they are turning them into it.
Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd to their side
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead
But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back to town
The next day, Paul left to proceed to Derbe and left with Barnabas.
________________________________________
MEMORY VERSE
We are merely human beings-just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God who made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. – Acts 14:15
Read: Acts 14
We see in this preaching journey of Paul and Barnabas how easily people are dazzled by supernatural things and forget to focus that God is the source of all miracles and wonders.
Once again, we see the humility of Paul and Barnabas who never wanted to be praised for what they do since it is God who made them all possible.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• Why do you think humans easily get dazzled by things people do?