Paul and Silas Unjustly Jailed - Acts 16:19-40

Last week we went over the story of how Paul and Silas commanded a demon spirit of fortune-telling to come out of a slave girl. When this happened she lost her powers of fortune-telling and her owners were very angry at Paul and Silas. The owners accused Paul and Silas of teaching customs which are not lawful for Roman citizens. The magistrates (legal authorities) had them beaten and thrown in jail. The jailer was commanded to keep them very secure. He put them in the center of the prison and put their feet into stocks so they could not escape.

Although unjustly beaten and thrown in prison, Paul and Silas worshipped God and sang praises and songs to Him. They were praying and singing at midnight while the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake that shook the foundations of the prison and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosened. The jailer, fearing that all the prisoners had escaped, drew his sword and was about to kill himself when Paul called out to him to not harm himself.  He reassured the jailer that all of the prisoners were still there.

The jailer rushed to Paul and Silas, trembling, said, “What must I do to be saved?” They responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Paul and Silas spoke the Word to the jailer and he accepted the Lord as his savior. He took them to his house, cleaned up their wounds, and fed them. His whole family believed, were baptized, and saved. The next day the magistrates told the jailer that he could let Paul and Silas go. However, Paul and Silas were unwilling to go secretly and said they would not leave. The magistrates were afraid because they found out that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens and by law, they could not be beaten without a trial.  The magistrates came and pleaded with them to leave their city. They came out of prison but went directly to the house of Lydia to finish what they came to do in the first place. After their visit, they left the city.

God used the Apostle Paul and Silas who were both Jews and Roman citizens to spread the gospel to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Through unjust circumstances, Paul and Silas were not defeated. They praised God and sang their way to freedom. In doing so they saved the life of the jailer and his household became believers in Jesus as well.

When you ever feel locked up in discouragement and unfairness, keep praying and singing to the Lord. The devil, your enemy, hates any kind of praise and worship to the Lord God. In your darkest moment find praise and worship songs that will lift up your spirits as you pray and trust God for your deliverance. As the jailer asked, “What must I do to be saved?” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.” This is a great promise to keep for your household if you are the only Christian. Keep believing for your loved ones to come to Christ. Jesus is the answer. (John 3:16)

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The Holy Spirit Gives Us Power: Acts 16:16-24

The church of Jesus Christ was birthed on the day of Pentecost (50 days after Passover) when the Holy Spirit came as a mighty rushing wind and filled the followers of Jesus who were waiting and praying in the upper room in Jerusalem. Of the 500 people who witnessed Jesus ascend up into heaven, 120 of them were in the upper room waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had instructed all of the people who had gathered around Him to go to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that He had to leave earth, but He would send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit,  Who would be with them/us to guide and help them/us in their/our journey on earth. 

When the Holy Spirit fell on the 120 followers, they began speaking in tongues, other languages that other foreigners could understand. The gift of the Holy Spirit empowered the followers to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and 3000 people became Christians or followers of Christ that same day. The church was born and the followers became empowered to preach the gospel with signs and wonders (healing and miracles) following them. 

On one occasion, the apostle Paul and Silas were preaching the gospel, and a slave girl who was a fortune teller was following them around shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally, Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit in the girl, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. Her slave owners were very upset because she made a lot of money for them. They were so upset that they charged them with a crime and had them beaten and thrown in prison.

Although the slave girl was telling the truth about who Paul and Silas were and what they were doing, Paul was annoyed that she kept shouting her proclamation of who they were. Paul had enough of it and commanded that the spirit in her come out. What was this spirit? It was a demonic spirit that gave her powers to predict the future and enabled her owners to make a lot of money with her gift. The spirit of God in Paul had greater power over the demonic spirit in the girl. In Matthew 10:8 Jesus commanded his disciples to, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons." What Jesus commanded of His disciples applies to us today. Often we forget that there is a spiritual world where demonic influences and forces are fighting against us and God. We do not need to be afraid, because the Holy Spirit in us is greater than the demonic forces in others. If you have not received the gift of the infilling or baptism of the Holy Spirit as a Christian, pray and ask God for that experience.  You can also ask mature Christians to pray for you to receive that infilling.  (Acts 19:1-6)

Personal Development Tip of the week: 

How are you guarding your mind?

Your mind is one of the most powerful things you use every day to direct and empower your life.

Your mind is responsible for thought, imagination, memory, desire, pain, belief, intention, emotion, and much more. If we know how important our mind is it might also be important to take account of what is influencing our mind.

Every single day you are being influenced by everything you hear, watch, listen to, and experience.

Now let me ask you, are you bringing into your mind more things that are propelling you forward or holding you back?

Some things to consider...

What am I reading?

What am I listening to?

What am I watching?

Who am I surrounding myself with?

Am I spending more time in the Past, Present, or Future? 

We have to remember that wherever we direct our focus is going to greatly determine how we feel and kn

An Attitude of Gratitude: Luke 17:11-18

One of the stories that we have highlighted in the past has been from the book of Luke in the New Testament where Jesus heals ten lepers. Because leprosy was a contagious bacterial disease that would damage nerves and disfigure its host with skin sores, infections, loss of fingers and toes, lepers had to stay far away from those who were healthy. They were outcasts and their community consisted of other lepers. They could not be with their families or loved ones.

When Jesus entered into a certain village a group of lepers who were standing afar off, raised their voices loudly and asked Jesus to have mercy on them. When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” According to the law of Moses, the priests would inspect them to see if they were clean, meaning free of leprosy. Only the priests could declare them clean and fit to go back into society. As the ten lepers obeyed Jesus and were on their way to see the priests, they were healed of leprosy.

When the lepers saw they were cleansed of the disease, one of them, a Samaritan and not a full Israelite, returned to Jesus, glorifying God. He fell at Jesus’ feet and gave Him thanks. Jesus asks, “Were there not ten cleansed, where are the nine?” Jesus is surprised that the others did not return to give glory to God, except this one stranger, a Samaritan, who is not of the household of Israel. Jesus tells him to arise and says his faith has made him whole. We can only surmise that any missing fingers, toes, or any other parts of the body that had been damaged by the disease were made whole and complete. 

Thanksgiving to God should be an everyday affair in our lives and not just on Sundays at church or when we have a miracle. The Book of Psalms is full of scriptures giving thanks and praise to God. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100:1-5.Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

When we go through challenging times, rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks may not be top of mind. We don’t thank God for bad circumstances such as illness, poverty, pain, etc., but in our circumstances, we give God thanks that He will bring us through victoriously and we thank Him for the answers to our prayers. We find the scriptures that address our challenges and pray for them and thank God for the positive outcomes of those scriptures.

One of my favorite scriptures is in Philippians 4:6-7. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

 So don’t worry about what is going on in the world, what is going on in your life, and what is going on with others you care about. Jesus wants to hear your prayer, your requests, and your thanks for the answer and He will give you that peace that comes from God. Our Father God is loving, caring, and gracious. Make thanksgiving a daily habit not only to God but also to your fellow man. (Psalm 50:14; Col. 3:17)  

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Personal Development Tip of the week: 

Remember this week that God wants you to prosper in all the areas of your life.

Some people only think the wor

God’s 300: Judges 6 & 7

The story of Gideon, his calling from God, and his victories through God are recorded in the book of Judges in the Old Testament. Gideon was a military leader, judge, and a prophet of God. When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor.” Gideon responded, “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” He did not see himself as a “mighty man of valor.” Manasseh was one of the 12 tribes of Israel and a clan was a smaller subsection of the tribe headed by the family’s Father or extended family’s patriarchal (male) leader.

During the days of Gideon, the Israelites were living in fear of their enemy, the Midianites, because God had allowed their enemies to harass, defeat them, and steal their flocks and crops. The Israelites had strayed from the Lord and even worshipped the idol Baal which was direct disobedience to God’s commandments of not having idols or worshipping anything other than the Lord God of Israel. The people had cried out to God to save them and help them.

When the Angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he told him that God was with him and that God would deliver his people from the Midianites. That night the Lord spoke to Gideon and told him to tear down his father’s altar to Baal and cut down the wooden image beside it. In place, he was told to build an altar to the Lord and place a sacrificial bull on it and burn the wood from the image for the sacrificial offering.

In the morning the men of the city saw what had happened and were angry. They investigated and found out that it was Gideon. They went to Gideon’s father, Joash, and demanded that he turn over his son so that they could kill him for what he did. Joash, who knew that God was not pleased with their idol worshipping but had practiced it anyway, told the men that if Baal is god he should be able to avenge himself and that he didn’t need men to do it. He announced that he who wants to plead the case for Baal, let him be put to death by morning. The Israelites knew God’s law (Exodus 10:3-6) but had willfully disobeyed. No one stepped up to avenge Baal’s altar and wooden image.

The Midianites and the Amalekites, their enemies, crossed into the Valley of Jezreel, which was land that was given by God to the tribe of Manasseh. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and he blew the trumpet and sent out messengers to the rest of his tribe and other tribes to gather for battle against the Midianites. There were approximately 135,000 men in the army of the Midianites and Amalekites who were gathered to attack the Israelites. Thirty-two thousand Israelites gathered to fight. God told Gideon that there were too many of them. They would claim the victory as their own and not give glory to God. Gideon told the men that they could go back to their homes if they were fearful and afraid. Twenty thousand left and ten thousand remained. God told Gideon that there were still too many.  

The Lord God told Gideon to bring the men down to the water and watch how they drink. He said that all those that kneel to the ground and those that lap the water like a dog were to be dismissed. He said to choose only those that would use their hands to bring the water to their mouths and were not on their knees. Another 9700 were dismissed with 300 men left. God had a plan to use 300 brave men. The night of the attack, the Lord had instructed Gideon to give every man a trumpet, an empty pitcher, and a lit torch inside of it. They were divided into three companies of 100 men surrounding the enemy's camp. Once they heard Gideon blow the trumpet they were to do the same, break the pitchers and hold the lit torches in their left hands and yell, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” When this happened the enemy

The Holy Spirit Births the Church: Acts 1 and 2

Jesus’ ministry, demonstrating God’s love with signs, wonders, healings, casting out demons, and raising people from the dead was accomplished in three years. After Jesus was crucified on the cross God raised Him from the dead after three days and three nights. Jesus had an immortal body that could appear, disappear, go through matter, and transcend time and space.

Jesus remained on the earth for forty days after His death and appeared to His disciples showing infallible proofs of His resurrection and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. There is no account of Jesus healing the sick or doing miracles after His resurrection. He appeared to those who loved Him like His mother, Mary Magdalene, His eleven disciples (Judas Escariot betrayed Jesus then committed suicide), and hundreds of others. When Jesus left the earth and ascended into heaven, there were 500 eyewitnesses.

Before Jesus left the earth physically, He promised that He would send the comforter, the Holy Spirit,  who would be with us, guide us, and lead us into truth. Jesus told His disciples before He left for heaven to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. On the Day of Pentecost (fifty days after Passover- a celebration of the first fruits of harvest) the following account is given.

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they (the disciples and followers of Jesus-120 of them) were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?” (vv. 1-8)

Because this was the day of Pentecost with first fruits festivities, there were Jews who came from all over the world. They heard the disciples and followers of Jesus speaking in their own home language and were astonished. They knew that the followers were from the Galilean region and were not world travelers knowing many languages. Some of the crowd made fun saying they were drunk, but the disciple Peter, got up and said that they were not drunk because people do not drink at 9:00am in the morning. He started to preach about Jesus, His miracles, His unjust crucifixion, and His resurrection from the dead. He preached from the scriptures in Psalms where David foretold the coming of Christ, His death and resurrection. Peter went on to say that they, the disciples, were all eyewitnesses and what they (the crowd) heard (tongues in their language) was what was promised by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28).

Peter stated that they, the Jews, crucified Jesus but God had made Him both Lord and Christ. When the people heard this, they were “cut to the heart” (heavily convicted within themselves) and asked what they should do. Peter said, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” On that day, about 3000 people were added to the faith and the church (body or people of Christ) began to grow.

If you have been a Christian for a while and have not received the baptism or infilling of the Holy Spirit as portrayed in the book of Acts, it is a gift and freely given when asked. As the body of Christ, we are to carry on where Jesus left off. Yes, we are to do greater things than Jesus did in His three years of ministry. Can we dare to beli

Honoring God Has Great Rewards: Daniel 6:1- 23  

The prophet Daniel served under King Darius during the captivity of the Jews about 600 BC in the Babylonian region. Daniel was one of three governors over the region and he was greatly favored by the king. Daniel had an excellent spirit and was gifted in wisdom and could interpret dreams.

God had blessed Daniel and placed him in a very high leadership role. He was far superior in his leadership than the other governors. Because of this, the other governors and government officials were jealous of him and wanted to destroy him. They tried to find something wrong that they could use to accuse Daniel but found nothing. Daniel had great integrity and was a strong man of faith. His custom every day was to go to the upper room of his home, open the windows that faced Jerusalem, kneel, pray and give thanks to God.

The Babylonian leaders were idol worshippers and planned a strategy that could get rid of Daniel. They approached King Darius and appealed to his ego. They told the king that all of his governors, administrators, and advisors had consulted together to establish a royal law that no one can petition any god or man, except the king for a period of 30 days. If they broke the law they would be thrown into the lion’s den. The king liked the idea and he signed a decree that could not be broken according to the laws of the Medes and Persians.

Although Daniel was a governor he found out about the law after it was signed by King Darius.

Despite the new law, Daniel went home and prayed to God making petitions to Him only. He knelt down on his knees three times that day and prayed. His enemies quickly went to the king to tell him that Daniel had broken the law and he needed to be thrown into the lion's den. King Darius was so upset with himself for being tricked into hurting Daniel. He could not change the law that he had signed. King Darius knew that Daniel served the God of Israel, but that thought never crossed his mind when the other leaders were praising him.

Before Daniel was put into the lion’s den the king spoke to Daniel saying,  “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” Daniel was put into the lion's den and the king went to his palace, fasted all night, and could not sleep. King Darius arose early in the morning and went to the lion's den. He cried out to Daniel asking if his God was able to deliver him. Daniel replied, “O king live forever!” Immediately Daniel was taken out. He told the king that an angel from God was sent to shut the mouths of the lions and he was not hurt. The king was so happy and he had the accusers of Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. They unfortunately did not have a good ending.

King Darius made a decree honoring the God of Daniel throughout the Medo-Persian kingdom.

He declared that the God of Daniel was the living God, Who delivers and rescues, and works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. Daniel prospered under King Darius and later under the next king, Cyrus the Persian.

The laws of God are higher than those of man. God wants us to worship Him only and not idols or other people even when it becomes a government law. Daniel disobeyed the law of the land and was punished for it, but God protected him. There are many stories in the Bible of ungodly leaders who have exalted themselves and not honored God. Daniel was not afraid to practice his faith in a foreign land. God blessed Him and God will bless you when you take a stand for your faith and not follow the ungodly ways of the world. Ask God to give you an excellent spirit like that of Daniel and give you courage to witness to others about God’s great love. ( James 1:5; Phil. 4:6 )

Personal Development Tip of the week: 

Taking time to reflect on our lives is so important. This is why I’m a huge fan

Persistence Pays: Luke 18:1-8

Jesus made a statement that people ought always to pray and not to lose heart. He spoke in a parable to illustrate the value of persistence. In this story, there is a widow who wanted justice against an adversary. This widow went to a judge in a certain city to ask for justice. In Jewish law, widows were given special protection under the justice system.

The book of Luke states that the judge did not fear God nor regard man. The widow came to him saying “Avenge me of my adversary.” Although he had the power to grant the widow her justice, he would not do it. However, he changed his mind and said to himself, “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, I will avenge her, so that she’ll stop coming to me continually to ask for justice and make me weary.

Jesus called him the “unjust judge” because he did not fear God nor regard man. He wasn’t interested in helping people, like this widow, find justice. He knew that this woman’s determination would keep her coming and make him weary. Jesus points out if an unjust judge avenged this woman, how much more will God avenge His own people who cry out day and night to Him, even though it may take a while. Finally, Jesus says “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

Our prayers may not get an immediate answer, but God wants us to have a consistent prayer life. It takes faith to continue to pray and believe that God is faithful to His Word. The Bible says to pray without ceasing, ask, seek, and knock and we would receive, find, and have the door opened, Only God can bring us true justice. Don’t give up, keep praying and believing. (I Thess. 5:17; Matthew 7:7)

Personal Development Tip of the week: 

What is one thing you want to focus on for the month of November? It could be your prayer life, fitness routine, or even giving up a bad habit.

Every new month gives us the opportunity to grow in an area of our lives that we would like to improve upon.

If you are up for this challenge let me know in the comments section of this newsletter what you want to improve upon this month! 

Prayer for the week:  

Thank you Lord that I am blessed every day, not because I deserve it or earned it, but because Jesus paid the price for me. I walk in your favor because you go before me, you are with me, and you never leave me or give up on me. I have no reason to be afraid and when I am tempted to take on fear, I will tell it to go away in Jesus name, Amen! 

-Dayne 

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Make God Bigger than Your Giants: Numbers 13 & 14

In the Old Testament, the Book of Numbers tells the story of Moses and the Israelites traveling to the Promised Land after their miraculous departure from Egypt. God had promised the land to Abraham and his descendants, the Israelites. God told them to conquer the land for He would be with them.

Moses chose twelve men, each a leader of their tribe, to go and scout out the land of Canaan. They were to report back on the people, their numbers, their strengths, and weaknesses, where they lived, and they were to bring back some of the provisions of the land. The men went out and returned after 40 days. One of the items they brought back was one cluster of grapes that was so large they had to have two men carry it on a pole between the two of them.

The land was occupied by several tribes that included the descendants of Anak, who came from a line of giants before the flood in Noah’s day. When the spies returned they reported how the land was prosperous and said it truly flows with milk and honey and they showed the fruit that they had brought back with them. They reported that the cities were large, well-fortified, and the people were strong. Sensing a negative response from the Israelites, one of the spies, Caleb, responded and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”  But the other spies said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” They proceeded to continue with their bad report and said that the men had great stature. The spies compared their enemies’ physical size to themselves and stated that they were like grasshoppers compared to them. They didn’t think about the size of their God who had done wondrous and miraculous things to bring them out of slavery.  They instilled fear into their people who started weeping and murmuring against Moses. They wanted another leader to take them back to Egypt, back to slavery.

Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, spoke to the Israelites saying that the land was an exceedingly great land and that the Lord was with them. They said, “Only, do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”  Despite this speech, the congregation of people wanted to stone them.

Obviously, the Lord God was not pleased with the Israelites and their unbelief. God told Moses that He would disinherit the people, bring a pestilence, and make a nation from Moses’ line that would be greater and mightier than them. Moses intervened and told God that the Egyptians will hear of it and say that the God of Israel took out His people but could not deliver them to the promised land and so He killed them in the wilderness. Moses then reminded God of His abundant mercy, his enduring patience, and His forgiving nature. Moses pleaded on behalf of the people and God pardoned them.

Because of their unbelief in God and their fear of man, God told Moses that no Israelite, twenty years and over will go into the Promised land except for Joshua and Caleb. Out of twelve spies, they were the only ones that gave a good report. The Bible says the others gave an evil report. For a total of 40 years, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and when Caleb was 85 years old, he, Joshua, and the younger generation that survived conquered their enemies and went into the Promised land. Caleb stated that at 85 years old, he was just as strong as he was on the day that Moses sent him out as a spy on the land.

Personal Development Tip of the week: 

What giants are you facing that are keeping you in fear and unbelief today? 

God has promised us good things in His Word and He promised that He would never leave us. In today’s cultur

God Looks at Your Heart  ( I Samuel 16:1-13 ) 

Many of our favorite Bible passages in the book of Psalms were written by King David of the Old Testament. We know that David loved the Lord because he was a worshipper of God and would play his harp, sing praises, and even danced before the Lord in celebration.

Before David would become king and fight Goliath, King Saul was the ruler of Israel. Saul was tall and had a commanding presence. However, King Saul willfully disobeyed God and tried to make excuses to the prophet Samuel for his decisions. The prophet Samuel said that his kingdom would be taken away from him and given to another.

God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem to anoint the future king of Israel. When Samuel entered the town, the elders asked if he had come peacefully. He said yes and that he came to sacrifice an animal to the Lord. He invited them and Jesse, David’s father, to join him. Now Jesse had several sons and as Samuel saw one of them, Eliab, he was impressed by his great stature and appearance. Samuel thought, this must be God’s choice, but God said no. Samuel proceeded to meet Jesse’s other seven sons to see if one of them was God’s choice. None of them were chosen and finally, Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other sons who had not come to the sacrifice.

Jesse said, yes, his youngest, who was taking care of the sheep. Samuel said that they would not sit down until the youngest was present. David, the youngest son, watched the sheep and protected them. He played his music in the field and practiced his marksmanship with the slingshot. When David came before Samuel, God told Samuel to anoint him as the future king of Israel. David is described as ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. He was not tall land of great stature like King Saul.

In verse 7 of I Samuel 15, God says to Samuel, “Do not look at the appearance or at the height of his stature (Eliab), because I have refused him. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Personal Development Tip of the week: 

In our walk with God, it’s more important to work on our hearts than to rely on our outward appearances. We can’t make ourselves taller, change the color of our skin, or change our biology. We may not look like leaders to the world, but God looks within. What are our motives, do we trust and honor God in all that we do? David would grow up and face many challenges in his life, including adultery, murder, and war, but He always had a great love for God and his goodness and mercy. 

Read Psalms 1, 23, 91, and 103 to get more insight. God wants to have a deep and personal relationship with you just as He did with David. Invite Jesus into your heart today and ask Him to lead and direct your life like the good shepherd in Psalms.

Prayer for the week:  

Thank you, lord, for another great week. Thank God it’s Monday, bless us lord this week to grow, give, and be courageous in everything we do. Be with us as we make decisions and give us wisdom, guidance, and direction this week in Jesus name amen! 

-Dayne 

PS. If you would like to support us consider checking out www.litwithprayer.com and picking up our devotional prayer journal to our new pieces of Christian-based Jewelry.

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Tricking Jesus: Matthew 22:15-22; Luke 20:20-26; Mark 12:13-17

When Jesus was in His ministry (age 30 - 33), He performed miracles, healed people, raised people from the dead, multiplied food to feed thousands in one seating, walked on water, and cast out demons from people. He went about doing good and helping those who were oppressed. He taught the people about God and the scriptures and mentored His disciples who would later carry out the gospel.

Jesus was criticized by the religious leaders who accused Him of hanging out with people who did not have good reputations like prostitutes and tax collectors. Jesus transformed people’s lives and then He gave the ultimate sacrifice, Himself so that all mankind could have a personal relationship with God and have everlasting life.  

The religious leaders were constantly plotting to find fault with Jesus. They were very political and would try to trick Jesus by asking Him questions that could, depending on His answers, cause the crowds to go against Him or could get Him in trouble with the Roman government body. The religious leaders hated Jesus because He didn’t fit into their mold, He helped the people, and He did things that went against their religious beliefs. They cared more about their rules than the lives of their people. Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He didn’t have his disciples fast, and He called Himself the Son of God. He proved His divinity through miracles, healings, and wonders.

Since taxes were a major concern for the Jews who had to pay taxes to Rome as well as their temple taxes, the religious leaders asked Jesus if it was lawful to pay taxes, specifically to Rome. Remember, the Jews had been conquered and were living under Roman law. Jesus asked the religious leaders to bring Him a coin. He held up the coin and asked whose image and inscription were on the coin. They answered, “Caesar.” Jesus then says, “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s.” They marveled at His answer and had nothing to accuse Him.

The religious leaders were eventually able to accuse Jesus unjustly and had Him brought to trial where He refused to defend Himself. This led to the crucifixion on the cross where Jesus died. But praise be to God, He did not remain in the grave and was resurrected on the third day. The devil thought he had won when Jesus went to the cross, but the trick was on him because it was God’s plan of redemption for mankind. A sinless man had to be our substitute sacrifice to take our sins away and bring us back to God. Jesus had to shed His blood for our salvation and our healing.

I Corinthians 2:7-8 says, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” In other words, the devil didn’t know God’s full plan to save mankind and he doesn’t know God’s full plan for our lives. Our enemy is not all-powerful like our God and we have the wisdom of God when we seek it. Trust in God and know that He loves you so much and wants the best for you. If you do not have a relationship with God, now is a good time to ask Him to forgive you of your sins and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. (John 3:16; James 1:5; Proverbs 2:6-7)

Personal Development Tip of the week: 

This week I challenge you to watch what you speak out loud about your life. We have to remember as Christians that the words we use have power behind them.

How many times can you remember saying to yourself, I can’t do this, I'm not that. Although we might not think at the moment it means much everything we say has power behind it to either help us or hurt us.

In Proverbs 18:21 it says, “The tong