Scripture:  Acts 16

Key Verse: Acts 16:26

“and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened…”

It’s late and you are tired.  You had a hard day and you would rather forget about it.  You feel like you have been beaten and the world has you bonded in shackles in prison.  You just lost your job. You are a prisoner to your own pain.  You have a physical disease, a mountain of debt and one step forward feels impossible.  You just need some sleep, everything is blurry. You are a prisoner of your own sin, your own doing.  Worse, you are a prisoner because of what someone else has gruesomely done to you.  It’s not fair and you wonder inside if anyone cares. It is all finally coming to a head, something has to give.

Then out of nowhere comes this urge.   It’s unlike any impulse you have ever had.  It resonates deep within you.  It is a song from long ago your mother and father used to sing.  A song that you had once forgotten and you somehow recall all the words as if you have sung this song every day since the pain first began.  It is a song with a reminder that someone loves you. A song that speaks of something you haven’t lived in a lifetime.

It is not normal to sing at midnight.  It is quiet where you are.  People are sleeping, but you have to let this song out of you and activate your vocal chords. Your faith is too fragile to remain silent.  At first it is a slight hum, then a little louder and louder…then out of nowhere you break forth into song.

It heals, it refreshes, it soothes, it stirs, it wells up from deep within and emotions pour out.  You recall, you repent, and then somehow you regain trust.  It is your greatest moment of worship and you realize an earthquake just happened.  You are finally in rubble, no stronghold is left, no worldly monuments left standing.  Your heart is open. No addiction has you, no words from the past bind you, your bond has been unfastened…

Question:  This ever happen to you?  If not, isn’t it about time?

Sing at midnight…

Scripture:  Acts 7

Key Verse: Acts 7:1

“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia…”

A good story will captivate the heart and draw out real emotion.  When teaching, motivating and accessing the hearts of people, I try and tell stories that captivate people’s attention.  Sometimes, when you tell stories, they resonate so much that extreme raw emotion surfaces.  This is what happened in this scripture. Stephen told such a good story of the history of his people that it “enraged” the people to charge in and kill him.  That is powerful!  If Stephen were was in my speech class, he would have put ALL of us to shame.  Here are some key pieces to telling a good story.

#1 Make it personal – Stephen was one of them, a Hebrew.  This scripture is so littered with cross references, you could spend all day reading and studying the circumstances behind everything.

#2 Begin where people are – This story is an incredible appeal to the Hebrew culture.  He started where people were.  They all knew the story, but he explained it in a way they probably had never heard it before.

#3 Know where you are going –  Stephen’s punch line was incredible, “you stiff necked people…you always resist the Holy Spirit…” (vs 51) Stephen knew what the end of the story was and where it fit.  He was sharing the Gospel clearly with them.  They could not argue with it, so they just disposed of him.

#4 Have conviction – In short tell your story passionately with emotion.  So many people are afraid of emotion.  This is a cop-out.  An excuse to disengage passively and be mediocre.  Don’t just give information, deal out inspiration.  I have a philosophy I have lived with for some years now.  “If you preach soft you get hard people, but if you preach hard, you get soft people.”

Stories change people, they are the tapestry of the Kingdom of God at work…Tell yours boldly

Question:  Who do you need to tell your story to?  Have you ever written your story down?

Scripture:  Acts 6

Key Verse: Acts 6:10

^“But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.”

I love playing card games as it is one of my favorite things to do.  I especially love when I have the Ace in my hand.  There is something about its power and influence that is exhilarating. Nothing else matters when I hold the ace because I can take any card I want at any time.  But it isn’t that you have the ace that makes a smart player.  It is often how you play the ace that matters. That is wisdom.

Wisdom speaks the truth in a powerful way.  People can try and argue with it, but it is like they are wasting their words.  The Gospel, “good news” is full of wisdom.  Here are some common results of speaking the truth from my own experience:

#1 You will offend people – Look, this is something you are just going to have to deal with.  People who are people pleasers and want everyone to like them often bend the truth.  People need to hear the truth even when it hurts.

#2 You will know who your friends are –  It is amazing how standing for something gets you into all kinds of trouble and it also draws others EVEN CLOSER to you.  When people know what you stand for they love you or leave you.

#3 It is liberating – Nothing like de-stressing through an old fashioned honest moment.  Often we carry great emotional strain when we suppress the truth.  Withholding the truth will kill you on the inside.

#4 It empowers others – Look, someone has to go first and speaking the truth will almost always inspire others to stand up for truth as well.

By the way, remember to speak the truth in love…that is true wisdom

Question:  When are you most afraid to speak the truth?

Scripture:  Acts 4

Key Verse: Acts 4:4

“But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.”

We all want to see it.  Whether it is in our parenting or athletic pursuits.  Whether it’s in our career or simply getting out of debt.  We want to see progress.  The question is, “are we getting anywhere?” The disciples saw it as they were being persecuted and people were lashing out against them.  Whatever was happening to them was worth it because five thousand people came to Christ. They saw progress.  Progress makes pain worth it!

But here is the problem.  Often times, we don’t see progress like we want.  We may even be doing everything right, but we seemingly never arrive at our destination.  Our business doesn’t grow, Our marriage may feel empty. We have done everything possible to get out of debt. We should be further along, but we are not.  Many times though, we ARE making progress, we just don’t see it like God does.

You won’t always see the progress, but know it is there.  There is no way you can see what God sees.  I remember being in the back of the car asking my Dad, “are we there yet?” My dad would lovingly say, “not yet son, just a little while longer.”  I trusted him and we always got there.  Progress is there. Don’t lose heart and keep on moving.

Today is day 3 of the Momentum Reading plan.  It’s simple: 1 day = reading 1 chapter of Acts for 28 Days. Today, January 25 read Acts 3.

Scripture:  Acts 3

Key Verse: Acts 3:15

“and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.”

We all have them, things that remain imprinted on the fabric of our souls.  They are regrets from the past.  I know it seems impossible; forgetting what is behind us, the mistakes we have made, the people we have hurt, the debt we incurred, the relationship we ruined, the child we didn’t love well enough, the wife we abandoned, the time we cheated. With these actions come scars.  They hurt. My deepest regret is my sin. Just like Peter said above, “we did this.” We crucified Jesus.  Peter doesn’t speak from piety, he speaks from a place of realizing his past apathy.  He avoided the crucifixion altogether and denied Jesus three times.  But remember, Jesus restored him three times as well…and he has restored you.

Maybe you don’t feel like it, but hear Jesus now, “You are adopted as sons and daughters.” (Eph 1:5) Cling to Jesus today, live without regrets, create new moments Jesus would be proud of.  Make the most of today.  You are forgiven.  No regrets…

Today is day 1 of the Momentum Reading plan.  It’s simple: 1 day = reading 1 chapter of Acts for 28 Days. Today, January 23 read Acts 1.

We are anticipating INCREDIBLE things in the next 28 days leading up to our 2 year anniversary celebration services February 19th.  Today is DAY 1.  Let’s see what God says to us.  Every day there will be a question at the end to rattle your cage!

Scripture:  Acts 1

Key Verse: Acts 1:8

“…but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”

You either have IT or you don’t.  Excuse me, you either have HIM or you don’t.  He isn’t an inanimate object and He isn’t a randomized power.  He isn’t a force out there waiting to be discovered giving people special powers, He has nothing to do with Luke Skywalker. Don’t confuse.  He isn’t a thing we call on just when we are in trouble.  He is our opportunity before a living God to make good on this opportunity of life.

I have seen people who have Him as their friend, mediator, strength and comfort.  I have seen people ignore Him, blaspheme Him, and act like He isn’t there.  I can tell you this without reservation though: You either have HIM or you don’t.  He is not something you work to obtain and you don’t have to EARN his friendship.  Don’t insult Him like that.  He is the real deal, can access things you only dream of and can give you knowledge and strength. He loves.

Let Him overcome and forgive your deepest darkest sin for you.  Let Him comfort you through your pain.  Let Him bring healing when there is excruciating pain. Let Him empower you to do His miraculous work.  It’s black and white, no gray area.  There is no mediocre middle, you either depend on Him or not.  Be aware of Him, talk to Him and if you don’t have Him, it’s time for you to let Him remake you.  He is God, He is real, He is your all-access pass.  You either have IT, ahem, HIM or you don’t.  Pray hard.

Question: Where are you seeing God’s power in your life RIGHT NOW?  IF no power then…Pray, Thoughts?

Here is the reading plan…

Can You Feel It?