“About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭19:23-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Demetrius says, “Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods.” Its tempting to make wealth a god. Here Demetrius was making idols to make wealth, yet how many of us try to worship God and wealth? Are we more concerned if we are low on spirit or low on cash? Does our job provide or God? Please pray that we and our friends know we can never worship both and God must be first. Please pray for the people of our country to put God first.

“And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭18:9-13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because the Lord says, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you”. Do you ever pause to speak about Jesus because of what someone might say? The history of the world has been mostly hostile to Christianity and we shouldn’t be shocked at the world we live in now. The world doesn’t mind if you just worship privately, but it feels threatened when we speak about Christ publicly and it will continue to get worse. Please pray that we and our friends will explain our love for Christ no matter the consequences. Please pray for the victims of sex trafficking.

“Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:29-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Paul says, “he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” I love how Paul can craft a speech to take these people from sinners in need of repentance to the resurrection in a couple sentences. Paul never wasted a opportunity and looked to anything to help connect the dots with his audience. Please pray that we and our friends know if our loved ones depend on the resurrection for their security. Please pray for all the victims of sex trafficking.

“And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:39-45‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Peter says, “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” It always amazes me how consistent the Bible is and how the Old Testament points to Jesus throughout. Having been written by many different authors, in different countries and in different times, it’s impossible that every Word wasn’t God breathed. Please pray that we and our friends understand how special it is to read the Word of God each day. Please pray for all the foster kids tonight.

“Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:17-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “And while Peter was pondering the vision”. Has God given you a thought or nudge that you are pondering? Is it for your transformation or a friends transformation? Have you acted on it and also been dependent on God? Please pray that we and our friends follow God’s nudges and depend on Him to fulfill His purpose. Please pray for Debi and Dan Jacobus.

“And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:26-31‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Luke says, “And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.” What would happen in Atlanta if we all “walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit”? The amount of believers would grow. Are we available to walk with someone when we see they need our help in knowing Jesus? Would Atlanta or any other town change as more and more people became believers. Please pray that we and our friends are about God’s purpose today. Please pray for Debi and Dan Jacobus.

“But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭9:13-17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because the Lord says, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” Have you ever met a Saul that was transformed into a Paul? It’s amazing to see God transform a person that was so influential in leading people down a bad road into a person who leads people on a good path. Will we have the courage of Ananias to talk to him if God puts in on our heart? Please pray that we and our friends see everyone as a eternal being that will live forever in either Heaven or hell. Please pray for our country.

“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:54-60‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Stephen says, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Do we see life through a temporal lens or a eternal lens? It’s amazing how Stephen can be so concerned about his “enemies” lives as they stone him. However, I hope we would too if we see this life as a small part of the eternal picture. Praying for people who would stone me would be very difficult, but couldn’t we pray for people we oppose in politics or theology? Please pray that we and our friends see everyone as eternal beings that will live forever somewhere. Please pray for all the foster kids.

“And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:26-34‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because the Lord says, “I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’” 40 years earlier, Moses wanted to deliver his people in his own power. Now, God sees Moses is ready to lead because he is dependent on God’s power. Moses then believes God and declares wild miracles in front of the Pharaoh in obedience to God. Please pray the we and our friends obey God and leave the consequences up to Him. Please pray for all those who have lost loved ones.

““And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭7:9-16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

All,This stands out because Stephen says, “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh”. God rescues Joseph out of all his afflictions, but those afflictions last for 7 years. I want to be rescued from my afflictions in a day or I think God has forgotten me. We never know what God’s plan is, but we do know He has one (Romans8:28). We may see it here on earth, but we will definitely see it eternally. Please pray that we and our friends always know that God will use everything for His purpose. Please pray for Jeff and Brad’s group.