Scripture Union Daily Guide 9 May 2024 (Thursday) Devotional Message
TOPIC: The Exaltation
OPENING PRAYER: Lord, I pray that you lead me into your truth as I meditate on your word in Jesus name.
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INTRODUCTION TO THE ACTS OF APOSTLES
It is generally agreed that Luke, who wrote the gospel, also wrote this book (Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1). The Book is a history of transition: from Judaism to Christianity, from the law to the age of grace and from a purely Jewish and Jerusalem-based community, to a worldwide, multiracial, and multinational community. Acts begins with Jesus telling the disciples, “Things pertaining to the Kingdom of God”, just before He ascends to heaven (Acts 1:2). It ends with Paul proclaiming the Kingdom of God (Acts 28:31).
Let us pray that, as we meditate on this book, God will teach us new things of what it means to be in the Kingdom of God. Let us also learn how to proclaim and express the Lordship of God in our times and circumstances.
SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 1:1-11
1 The former* treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them* forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many* days hence.
6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord*, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they looked stedfastly* toward heaven as he went up*, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Scripture Union Daily Guide 9 May 2024 QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
* Q 1: What does the passage teach about God the Father, or God the Son or God the Holy Spirit?
* Q7: What truth is God revealing to me in this passage?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 9 May 2024 MESSAGE
Today is a great day in the history of the Church. Forty days ago, we celebrated the Easter. Today we are marking the day our Lord ascended to heaven. It’s like the disciples did not know that it was going to be that day. They were preoccupied with some other question (v.6). We should understand their context in asking this question.
They now have a saviour who is worth following, having overcome death and the grave. But they also have some social and political issues to grapple with. There were so many corruptions and exploitations around them. They desired a day like that of King David when all other surrounding nations were conquered, and Israel became the world power. They did not want to be ruled by the imperial Roman Government any longer.
They thought that there could not have been a better time to restore such power back to their nation of Israel. Many of us are tempted to think that way today and many of the “prosperity preaching” we hear also tell us that since our Lord has conquered death, we now have access to all the financial, material and even political powers.
But the Lord has another strategy (vs.7, 8). We are not to conquer the world using the worldly weapon. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-13).
Practice/Word Application
And so? Share Jesus with someone today.
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 9 May 2024 Closing Prayer
Thank you, Father, for your divine presence with me. Help me to be a faithful witness to your resurrection power.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with 2 Chronicles 7:14
One Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 130 -Psalms 50, 53, 60, 75
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Thursday May 09, 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
WAITING MOTHERS
‘No one will suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land’.
Ex 23:26
THANK GOD FOR:
* Keeping his promise to his people.
* The blessing of the fruit of womb to our families.
PRAY FOR:
* God’s protection over our pregnant sisters and their babies till the appointed time of delivery.
* God’s visitation upon waiting couples.
PRAY AGAINST:
* Satanic manipulations
