June 13
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GENTILES HEAR THE GOOD NEWS
A poem by ILMA
Peter told Cornelius that he saw clearly how God shows no favoritism
In every nation, he accepts those who fear him and do what is right
He declares the message of the Good News for the people of Israel
“That there is peace with God through Jesus Christ who is Lord of all.”
After John began preaching his message of baptism, we know Jesus went
He baptized the Lord and God anointed him with the Holy Spirit
Then Jesus went around doing good and healing the oppressed
He did all these miracles as God’s Spirit was so alive in his human body.
The apostles are witnesses of all Christ did throughout Judea in Jerusalem
They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but rose from the dead
Then God allowed him to appear, not to all but to whom he has chosen
He did that in advance to be his witnesses, so they can do his work.
Jesus ordered us all to preach everywhere and to testify that it is only Jesus
That his only Son Jesus was the one appointed by God to be judge of all
This includes the living and the dead, that Christ is the one Scriptures spoke about
Everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.
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MEMORY VERSE
I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. – Acts 10:34
Read: Acts 10
What amazing fair and just God we have. He never shows favoritism to anyone. He accepts anyone who fears him. This story of the apostles gave us a solid picture of how God treats anyone who believes in him and do what is right.
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REFLECTION
• How does favoritism play a part in destroying people?
• Why is it important that we fear the Lord and do what is right?
• What kind of an apostle was Peter bringing this Good News to the Gentiles?
Tag Archives: poetry
CORNELIUS CALLS FOR PETER Poem Devotional
June 12
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CORNELIUS CALLS FOR PETER
A poem by ILMA
In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius
He was a captain of the Italian Regiment and was devout
Cornelius was a God-fearing man and so did all his household
They all prayed regularly to God and gave generously to the poor.
One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision
An angel of God came towards him and he was terrified
“What is it, sir?” he asked the angel and he replied with
“Your prayers and gifts to the poor has been received.”
The angel told him to go to Joppa and summon Simon Peter
He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives by the seashore
As soon as the angel left, Cornelius called two of his servants
He told them what has happened and told them to go to Joppa.
The servants told Peter that they have come to bring him to Cornelius
When Peter arrived, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him
Peter pulled him up and said, “I am human, just like you, so get up”
He told him that God instructed him to come to his house.
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MEMORY VERSE
Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you but God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. – Acts 10:28
Read: Acts 10
In those times when the apostles were preaching the Good News, Gentiles and Jews never mix together. Gentiles were considered unclean or impure. The story of Cornelius being shown a vision and asked to summon Simon Peter was a clear change in the perspective of Jewish law.
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REFLECTION
• Why would God break the laws of the Jews? What is it that he is actually changing?
PETER HEALS AENEAS & RAISES DORCAS Poem Devotional
June 11
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PETER HEALS AENEAS & RAISES DORCAS
A poem by ILMA
Peter traveled from place to place and came to visit believers in Lydda
There he met Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden eight years
Peter spoke “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your mat!”
The man was healed instantly and the whole town turned to the Lord.
There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek)
She was always doing kind things and helping the poor
She became ill and died and her body washed for burial
They laid her dead body in the upstairs room and called Peter.
As soon as Peter came, they took him in the upstairs room
The room was filled with widows who were weeping
They showed him the coats and other clothes Dorcas made
But Peter asked them all to leave the room and knelt and prayed.
Turning to the body, he said “Get up, Tabitha!” And she opened her eyes
When she saw Peter, she sat up and he gave her his hand to help her up
Then he called in the widows and all the believers and he presented her to them
The news spread through the whole town and many believed in the Lord.
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MEMORY VERSE
The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord. – Acts 9:42
Read: Acts 9
What amazing miracles did the apostles did in those days. There were so much people who witnessed Peter raising the dead. All these were proof of the Holy Spirit living in them and equipping them to make all these signs and wonders.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think Peter chose Tabitha/Dorcas to be raised from the dead?
• How can we take authority over the sick and use God’s powerful name to bring about life to those who have been dead?
• Why is faith an important requirement for healing to occur?
SAUL’S PREACHING AFTER CONVERSION Poem Devotional
June 10
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SAUL’S PREACHING AFTER CONVERSION
A poem by ILMA
Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days
Immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogue
Saul proclaimed “He is indeed the Son of God!”
All who heard him couldn’t believe and was amazed.
The people asked “Didn’t he come here to arrest us and put in chains?”
They thought that Saul will bring turn them over to the leading priests
Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful each day
The Jews couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.
After a while, the Jews plotted together to kill him
They watched for him day and night at the city gate
But Saul was told about their plot so that night they had a plan
They lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall.
When he arrived in Jerusalem, the believers were all scared of him
They did not believe Saul had truly become converted to be a believer
Barnabas brought him to the Apostles and told him of Saul’s conversion
He told them how Saul had preached boldly about Jesus in Damascus.
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MEMORY VERSE
The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers. – Acts 9:31
Read: Acts 9
Saul’s conversion and the power of the Spirit in him was so evident in the way he preached boldly about Jesus being the Messiah in Damascus and Jerusalem. It was God’s Spirit who transformed Saul into the mouthpiece of God. He boldly preached the Good News to the fearful believers who couldn’t comprehend that this same persecutor is now a believer. ________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How did God use evil for his own purpose in this account of Spirit led preaching?
SAUL’S CONVERSION Poem Devotional
June 9
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SAUL’S CONVERSION
A poem by ILMA
Saul was threatening to kill every breath of all of the Lord’s followers
So he went to the high priest and asked their cooperation to arrest them
He wanted to bring them – both men and women in chains back to Jerusalem
As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light shone from heaven.
He fell to the ground and a voice said “Saul, why are your persecuting me?”
Saul asked who he was and he identified himself as Jesus, the one he is killing
He was told to get up and go into the city and be instructed further
The men with Saul was speechless for they heard the voice but saw no one.
Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes, he was blind
So the men led him by the hand to Damascus and remained blind for three days
He did not eat or drink during those time; there was a believer named Ananias
The Lord spoke to him in a vision and told him to look for Saul from Tarsus.
Ananias complained to the Lord what Saul has done to the believers
The Lord reassured him that Saul will be the messenger to Gentiles and kings
Then instantly like scales from Saul’s eyes, he immediately regained his sight
Then he was baptized then he ate food some food and regained his strength.
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MEMORY VERSE
He fell to the ground and he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”. – Acts 9:4
Read: Acts 9
What a twist of fate we see in this story where Saul was converted from being a killer to a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has interesting choices to use to bring about his kingdom to the Gentiles and to kings.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think God chose someone who persecuted Christians to be a disciple who brought about the Good News to the Gentiles and the kings?
• What was the interesting characteristic of Saul that made him a witness to Jesus?
PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH
June 8
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PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH
A poem by ILMA
As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down to Gaza”
He started out and met the Ethiopian eunuch of the queen of Ethiopia
The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship and now returning
Seated in his carriage he was reading the book of Isaiah.
The Holy Spirit ask Philip to walk along beside the eunuch’s carriage
Philip ran and asked him if he understood what he was reading’
“How can I, unless someone instructs me?” He urged Philip in
The eunuch was reading the word on “Like a sheep, he was slaughtered.”
The eunuch asked if he was talking about himself or someone else?
This was how Philip began to tell him about the Good News about Jesus
As they rode along, they came to some water and asked to be baptized
He ordered the carriage to stop and the eunuch was baptized in the water.
When they came up out of the water, Philip was snatched by God’s Spirit
The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing
Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus
He preached the Good News there and each town until he reached Caesarea.
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MEMORY VERSE
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. – Acts 8:39
Read: Acts 8
This story was an amazing account of Philip’s Holy Spirit led preaching of the Good News that led a powerful eunuch to have the desire to be baptized after hearing how Philip explained to him the meaning of the book of the prophet Isaiah. Philip was snatched literally out of a physical place into another one by the Spirit of the Lord.
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REFLECTION
• What made the eunuch have that great desire to be baptized?
• How do you explain Philip’s disappearance from the eunuch’s presence?
PHILIP PREACHES IN SAMARIA Poem Devotional
J
une 6
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PHILIP PREACHES IN SAMARIA
A poem by ILMA
The believers preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went
Philip went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah
Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear the message
The people who were witnessing were eager to hear the miraculous signs he did.
Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims
Numerous who were paralyzed or lame were healed and restored
Because of all of these miraculous signs, there was great joy in the city
Philip’s message of Good News converted many people in that place.
Simon the sorcerer amazed many people for many years claiming greatness
Everyone spoke of Simon as the Great One and they were astounded by him
But when Philip preached there, so they snapped out of Simon’s magic
Many were baptized and began to follow Philip wherever he went.
Simon himself believed and was baptized and followed Philip everywhere
He was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard Samaria accepted God’s message
Peter and John then prayed for the new believers to receive God’s spirit.=
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MEMORY VERSE
But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.
-Acts 8:12
Read: Acts 8
In the Acts of the apostles, we witness how the power of God was with Philip, Peter and John. Without the Spirit’s power, they won’t be able to do all the miraculous signs and wonders that brought about much conversion in Samaria.
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REFLECTION
• Have you witnessed for God to someone?
• What can the Holy Spirit do through you if you believe?
JOB’S THREE SO-CALLED FRIENDS Poem Devotional
June 5
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JOB’S THREE SO-CALLED FRIENDS
A poem by ILMA
When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy their friend went through
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar got together and went to console and comfort Job
When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized their friend
Job was wailing loudly and they tore their robes and showed their grief.
Eliphaz gave his first response to Job’s bitterness and anguish in his condition
At first, you’d think this friend was really there to comfort Job in his agony
Then he started accusing Job that he must have sinned to go through this
His discourse was all about making Job repent and gave counsel that is biased.
Then Bildad the Shuhite started verbalizing his theories about Job’s predicament
He assumed that Job or his children must have sinned that’s why he’s punished
He mentioned that God will never reject a person of integrity
He thinks that Job is actually guilty for him to have such adversities.
Then Zophar the Naamathite started rebuking Job as well
Like the two other friends, he was sure that God was punishing him
He asked Job to confess and get rid of his sins so his life will be better
For if he didn’t, he will be blinded and the only hope is death.
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MEMORY VERSE
For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.
– Job 12:10
Read: Job 2-12
When I read these chapters, it was hard to believe how Job could have friends like these three people who were such accusers and blaming. It is interesting what these three friends represent in Job’s life. I see a parallel to the Pharisees in Jesus’ time where they accused Jesus of something he never did. I think the devil used these friends to add torment to Job’s loss of wealth, family and health in the guise of friendship.
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REFLECTION
• How do we know if our friends are really godly and righteous people?
JOB’S SECOND TEST Poem Devotional
June 4
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JOB’S SECOND TEST
A poem by ILMA
One day, the heavenly court came again to present themselves to the Lord
The accuser, Satan came with them and the Lord asked where he had been
He said he was patrolling the earth and watching everything that’s going on
Again, the Lord boasts to Satan about how blameless Job his servant was.
God shows Satan how Job fears God and stays away from evil despite the harm
Satan said that if his health is taken away from him, he will surely curse God
So, the Lord allowed him to test Job but ensure that Job’s life is spared
Satan left the Lord’s presence and struck Jo with boils from head to foot.
Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among ashes
His wife said “Are you still trying to keep your integrity? Curse God and die”
Job rebuked her and said that she talked like a foolish woman
He said that we should accept all things good or bad and never cursed God.
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MEMORY VERSE
Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad? So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. – Job 2:10
Read: Job 2
The second test of Job is a great insight as to how this man have learned to accept not only the good things God gives him, but the bad as well. How many of us can have this integrity and not blame God for all the challenges and adversities we go through? Can we be able to thank the Lord for the tests that we go through that are in the form of sufferings and losses? The wife of Job shows how we most humans are. We try to point our fingers on someone or something so we can dwell on the self-pity and then we get into the pit. We try to put blame on something so we can justify our lack of accountability.
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REFLECTION
• What kept Job being hopeful and positive despite losing his wealth, children and suffering physical discomfort and pain?
• Can we continue to focus on God’s goodness and wisdom when we are faced with pain and suffering?
JOB’S FIRST TEST Poem Devotional
June 3
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JOB’S FIRST TEST
A poem by ILMA
The Lord answered Satan’s request to prove Job’s integrity and righteousness
He said that he can do whatever he wanted with Job but not harm him physically
When Job’s ‘s children were feasting at one of the brother’s house, something happened
A report reached Job that all of his animals were stolen and farmhands were killed.
While the first messenger was still speaking, another one arrived with this news
“The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned your shepherds and sheep”
While he was still speaking, a third messenger came with the following update
“Three bands of Chaldean raiders stolen all the camels and killed all his servants.”
Then the fourth messenger came as the last one was still speaking said this
“Your sons and daughter were feasting in their oldest brother’s house,
Suddenly a powerful wind, spent in from the wilderness and collapsed the place
All of Job’s children died and this messenger was the only one who survived.
Job stoop up and tore his robe in grief, then he shaved his head and fell to the ground
He said that he came naked from his mother’s womb and will be naked when he leaves
He continued, “The Lord gave me what I had; and the Lord has taken it away
He praised the Lord and he did not sin in all this by pointing fingers at the Lord.
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MEMORY VERSE
Praise the name of the Lord. In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. – Job 1:21-22
Read: Job 1
If you place yourself in the shoes of Job, what would you do? Would you still be able to praise the Lord after losing almost all your possessions, including your beloved children? It is amazing how intact Job’s integrity was. He grieved his children’s death, and yet he was still able to recognize that they are not his but God’s and acknowledged that everything came from him and has the right to take it all back.
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REFLECTION
• Share a series of trial or adversity that you were able to recognize God’s hand in it.
• Why did God allow Job to be tested by the devil in this chapter?