REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on September 27, 2016, is written by Pastor David Son who pastors the Thrive Church in Taipei.  He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley (BA) and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Stay up to date with Thrive Church by following them here: https://www.instagram.com/thrivechurchtaipei/

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“The Silence of God”
John 18:15-18, 25-27
Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter stood outside at the door. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the servant girl who kept watch at the door, and brought Peter in. The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the servants and officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were standing and warming themselves. Peter also was with them, standing and warming himself… Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You also are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Peter again denied it, and at once a rooster crowed.

What do we do when our God seems silent? Simon Peter was certainly a bold man when Jesus was walking on water and casting out demons. In fact, moments before this passage, Peter was the one who whipped out his sword, prepared to take on a squadron of soldiers. But seeing His captured Lord—the Son of God—remain silent, submissive, and seemingly powerless, like a lamb about to be slain… we find Peter without an ounce of boldness. 
If we’re honest, Peter’s dilemma is nothing new to us. When we experience the power of our God, it is easy to be bold for Him. At retreats, on the mission field, at Sunday service, we have no problem standing up for our Lord. But would you agree that it becomes exponentially harder to muster up that boldness when we are not surrounded by visible evidences of God’s power? In our workplaces, in our classrooms, or maybe among our families/friends, when we can’t quite understand what God is doing, and why He seems to be so silent, it’s hard to be bold. Of course in hindsight, we know that in the midst of Jesus’ silence that God was executing His most powerful work yet. But when we are in the midst of the silence of God, we can all imagine being in Peter’s shoes.
But there is a critical difference between Simon Peter in this passage, and those of us following Christ today. We have a huge advantage over Peter because we have something (or someone, rather) that Peter at that point had yet to receive: the Holy Spirit! In fact, the story of Peter does not end here. Later, in the book of Acts, Peter becomes an even bolder man than he was before, when he receives the Holy Spirit.
What do we do when our God seems silent? We ask the Holy Spirit to give us the strength and boldness to stand firm. Today, will you ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with boldness, even if God seems to be silent at the moment? 
Prayer: Holy Spirit, we ask for greater faith—a faith that believes before seeing with our eyes; a faith that knows that You are doing a powerful work, even in what may seem like silence to us. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Mark 2

Lunch Break Study

Read Acts 4:23-31:When [Peter and John] were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,and the peoples plot in vain?The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’—for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Questions to Consider

1. What kinds of struggles did the early Christians face?
2. In the midst of the threats, what do the believers pray for?
3. What happens after they pray?

Notes

1. Peter and John had just been arrested for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, that He had died and risen. Both the Bible and historical accounts affirm that the early Christians faced societal persecution: Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, Jews, and essentially the whole city was antagonistic towards the followers of Jesus and towards the gospel.
2. First, they worship God and acknowledge His sovereignty. Then, they ask for boldness to continue speaking God’s Word. Finally, they ask for God to continue healing, doing signs and wonders through the name of Jesus.
3. The place is shaken, and they are all filled with the Holy Spirit; then they continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Our society today is generally becoming increasingly hostile towards Christians. In the midst of this, let us continually ask for the boldness to speak God’s Word as He moves in power.

Evening Reflection

Spend some time this evening praying for the person in your life who you think is the least likely to come to know the Lord. Remind yourself that he/she is created in the image of God, and ask God to soften this person’s heart to the work of the Spirit. 

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on October 25, 2016, is provided by Andy Kim who is the Lead Pastor of Radiance Christian Church in San Francisco.  Andy is a graduate of Northwestern University (B.S.) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Div.).

Devotional Thought for This Moring

“If God Shows Me a Sign, then I Will Go”
Hebrews 3:7-14
So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. 10 That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ 11 So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 

“If God shows me a sign, then I will go.” How often have we uttered the same prayer, only to find ourselves frustrated and lost? I have wondered why God does not reveal Himself in the manner He did in the Old Testament. Surely if He split not even the sea, but even a small pond, people would come to believe. Yet we see that even though the Israelites saw the sea divide, walked over dry ground, and saw manna fall from heaven, their hearts were hardened after times of testing. Ironically, it seems that the more they saw God move, the less they believed in Him. More importantly, because of their unbelief, they could not enter the Promised Land. 
John Piper provides an explanation for this: “It is possible to taste of these things, be deeply affected by them, and to be in unbelief because Jesus Christ himself is not your hearts’ delight and hope and confidence and reward.” In fact, the writer of Hebrews urges us to hold to our original convictions in Christ alone. Perhaps faith is less about seeing God move but more about believing in what you cannot see and being certain of the hope that is found in Him (Hebrews 11:1). Only by such faith can we endure through the trials of life and receive life’s greatest reward—which is Christ Himself. Faith based on signs and wonders proves to be shallow and wavering, but faith in Christ is deeply rooted and unshakeable.
Jesus says, “Because you see me, you believe; but blessed are those who have no seen and yet have believed”(John 20:29). Oh, how easy it is to forget our original convictions when our eyes only look for the signs of God! We can easily forget the many ways in which God has been faithful and has done the impossible in our lives. May we change our perspective from a “show us and then we’ll go,” to what the Lord originally promised, “Go, and I’ll show you.” May we hold onto our original convictions and put our complete faith in Him. Ask the Lord to increase your faith in Him. 
Prayer: Lord, may the object of my faith be You and You alone. I confess that I lose sight of all the ways in which You have been faithful. And in times of testing, I put my trust in other things and myself. In the areas in which I lack faith in, I want to believe, but help my unbelief. Thank You for all the ways in which You have been faithful. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Mark 1

Lunch Break Study

Read 1 Peter 1:6-9 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 
Questions to Consider

1. How can we rejoice when we go through trials and our faith is tested? 
2. What is the difference between being happy vs. being joyful?
3. Why does Peter say we should persevere in our sufferings?

Notes

1. Peter states that the trials we face—both short and long—are momentary in comparison to eternity. Sometimes all we can see are the trials in our lives, but as Christians we look towards Christ, though He cannot be seen. But through Him, we have received the salvation of our souls. This salvation is our guarantee of our eternity and the source of joy in our lives. 
2. Happiness is merely an emotion that focuses on the moment, whereas joy is a promise that focuses on eternity. To rejoice in suffering does not mean to convince yourself to be happy; rather, it is to focus your thoughts on the promise of eternity that awaits us. 
3. The testing of our faith is the way for us to prove the authenticity of our faith. As fire refines gold to its purest form, trials refine our character. Those who persist await the reward of praise, glory and honor through Jesus Christ. Warren Wiersbe says, “A faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.” In many cases trials are the prerequisite for God’s will to be furthered in our lives, so that He can entrust us with the greater works of His Kingdom. 

Evening Reflection

Charles Spurgeon once said, “The fiery furnace is very hot; but the Son of man is in it with you; and, by His grace, you shall come out of the furnace before long.” During trials, we are tempted to fix our eyes on getting out, but may we fix our eyes on Jesus who promises to be with us during these trials. May He remind you of the eternal salvation and glory that awaits you in the life to come. May our complaints be replaced with this greater hope and expectation!  

REPOST  Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, written by Pastor Andrew Kim, was originally posted on June 25, 2016.  Andrew is presently pastoring Alive Church in Montreal.  

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Habakkuk to Luther”
Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

The great reformer Martin Luther was incredibly self-aware, especially when it came to his own sinfulness. For this reason, he was constantly tormented in his conscience as he wondered whether he stood in God’s favor or wrath. He would try to remedy this problem by going to the priest for confession over and over again. It got so bad that the priest would tell him to stop coming unless he committed a terrible sin. No matter what religious duties Luther fulfilled, he never felt peace in his own conscience and no solace in his own works. However, through the grace of God, he stumbled upon Habakkuk 2:4 when studying through the book of Romans, and it provided the very freedom he so desperately needed. 
As Habakkuk waited on the watchtower, he was perplexed by the plan of God. If God used the evil Chaldeans to pronounce judgment on Judah, what would happen to the righteous? Would they also be destroyed? God provides an answer. Those who trust in themselves and whose souls are puffed up will be destroyed. But those who are righteous and faithful to God’s standards and decrees will live. In other words, those who trust in God’s plans and not their own will prevail. 
Later on, the apostle Paul would find the very essence of the gospel in this verse. Just as the people of Judah would be saved if they trusted not in their own works but in the promise of God, the gospel calls us to trust in God’s promise of life rather than our own self-justification projects. This is precisely the reason why Martin Luther found comfort in Habakkuk 2:4: He realized that salvation had nothing to do with trusting in his own works; rather, it was all about placing his trust in the work of Christ—which is always sufficient. No matter how sinful a person is, the sacrifice of Christ is always enough. This led Luther to a sense of freedom that he had never experienced before, because he knew that nothing could separate him from the love of God. In our culture where it is so easy to feel that we’re never good enough, this is a much needed reminder for all of us. Take some time to marvel at this truth today and know that in Christ, God’s posture toward us is always one of love and grace!
Prayer: Lord, I praise You and thank You that your sacrifice on the cross has made me righteous in Your eyes, so that I could be free from guilt and condemnation.  Help me to live daily in Your grace, trusting only in the blood of Jesus.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Philippians 4

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on January 22, 2016.

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Why Do You Stand Here Looking into the Sky?”

Acts 1:9-11

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.  10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Most evangelicals probably no longer care what Rob Bell has to say after he questioned the existence of hell in Love Wins (and later declaring, “Smile, there is no hell”), but at one time he had their ears.  Calling evangelical theology “evacuation theology,” he said, “Figure out the ticket, say the right prayer, get the right formula, and then we’ll go somewhere else.”  That, he said, was “lethal to Jesus, who endlessly speaks of the renewal of all things.” In effect, Bell points out: “Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly good”.

Perhaps, symbolically, that is sort of what the men of Galilee gathered at the Mt. Olive were doing: “Looking intently up into the sky as [Jesus] was going.”  You can hardly blame them for being glued to what was a spectacular scene, but they must have stared too long.  The angels were dispatched and after tapping their heads, they said, “Why do you stand here looking into the sky?”  Reading between the lines, you could almost hear the angels shout, “Stop staring and get to work.”

But that’s our default position though: we would rather be in a holy huddle and worship God (“looking up into the sky”) among ourselves rather than “to offer our bodies as living sacrifices,” which Paul refers to as a “spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1).   When Peter encountered an otherworldly experience on a high mountaintop in which he saw Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah, he said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.  Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Mk. 9:5).  Of course, it was good to be up there, but in the meantime, all hell broke loose at the foot of the mountain.  A father would later tell Jesus, “My son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech . . . He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid” (9:18).  Perhaps, Peter momentarily forgot the true condition of men, but Jesus, “who knew all men” (Jn. 2:24), dismounted and restored the boy back to his father. 

Paul says, “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2).  And if we really live in accordance with this teaching, being heavenly minded will stir us to be more earthly good.   We must always begin with the vertical (God’s relationship with man) and then express it horizontally (our relationship with our fellow man).  Apostle John says, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them (horizontal), how can the love of God (vertical) be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 Jn. 3:17-8).  Remember this throughout 2023.

Prayer: Our magnificent God, how wonderful is it to be in your presence.  That is why I “look up” to worship You and to contemplate your greatness.  But today, I’m reminded also to look around to notice those who are too weak to look up.  May I encourage them with the Gospel and my own actions.  May I not just this say but actually do it!  O Spirit, empower me.  Amen.  

Bible Reading for Today: Philippians 2-3

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on October 21, 2016, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David, a graduate of Drexel University and Columbia International University (M.Div.), was recently ordained. Congratulations. 

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Drifting”
Hebrews 2:1-4
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

On a family vacation a few months ago, one of the activities I did with my daughters was paddle boating.  The paddleboat was powered and steered depending on the amount of pressure put on the right and left paddles.  We would paddle hard to go fast, but when we would grow weary and took a break and stopped paddling, we would slowly drift away. Then we would have to quickly get back on course by paddling again.
In today’s passage, the writer of Hebrews warns us about drifting (v. 1).  Though these verses have often stirred up controversy because some think that it means that you can lose your faith, I do not think that is what is meant.  Remember that Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians who were thinking of returning to the old covenant.  The warning is not to drift from the gospel message in light of the great salvation it brings (v. 3). 
So how can we drift?  I want to give two ways we can drift in our own walk with Christ:

1. Familiarity with the Truth – Once we start becoming too familiar with the message of the gospel, we can often drift and not find Christ and His kingdom glorious and worthy as when we first encountered Him.
2. Busyness – In the modern world we live in, we can get overwhelmed with busyness in our lives.  When are constantly busy, we often lose sight of what is important, which is the exellencies of Christ and His kingdom.  

So what are we called to do?  One practical application is to hold on to God’s Word—to treasure and hold on to the Word so that we would not drift away from Him.  In closing, here is what Pastor John Piper says:
“Hebrews says that if we do not vigilantly pay closer attention to the Word of God, we will float by — we will drift away from God’s Word.  That is the point here: there is no standing still. The life of this world is not a lake. It is a river. And it is flowing downward to destruction. If you do not listen earnestly to Jesus and consider him daily and fix your eyes on him hourly, then you will not stand still; you will go backward. You will float by.”
Prayer:  Lord, thank You for the warning You give us in Your Word about drifting.  May our hearts cling to You and Your Word.  May we find Jesus more glorious and beautiful every passing day.  Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Philippians 1

Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 1: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Questions to Consider

1. What is the key to “blessedness” in this Psalm?
2. How is the blessed man described?
3. Does this picture resemble our lives today?  Why or why not?

Notes

1. One who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked and as one who delights in the Word of God.
2. The psalmist describes the blessed man as someone who is rooted in the Word; and in any season of life, they will prosper.  
3. Think about where your life is today.  Are you rooted in Him?  Are you delighting in the Word consistently?   Think of some ways you can apply this passage in your life.  

Evening Reflection

Spend some extra time reading God’s Word.  Ask the Lord for a great love for it and that you would be one who meditates on it day and night.  

REPOSTToday’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor Ryun Chang (AMI Teaching Pastor), was first posted on February 18, 2016.

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“Sharing the Gospel Through the Power of the Holy Spirit”
Acts 4:29-31 (NIV)
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

While serving in Mexico as a missionary (2000-11), I used to hand out evangelistic tracts during my daily jog.  After returning to the states, I continued the practice—at least for a time.  One day while jogging in a park, I ran by three park workers but felt timid to say anything.  So I said to God, “If they’re still there when I return, then I will hand out tracts.”  I was hoping that they would be gone by then, but they were still there—and I felt just as nervous.  Now, what do I do?
In today’s passage, what is so amazing about this prayer is that Peter, whose absence of boldness before an accusatory servant girl had prompted him to deny Jesus, was the one who led it. Here he was, merely seven weeks after his spiritual meltdown, boldly proclaiming Christ before a hostile crowd.  So, what turned the timid Peter around, who was no longer afraid to pay the ultimate price for testifying of Jesus?  Certainly, seeing the risen Lord was necessary but not sufficient for that.  What enabled Peter to speak God’s word with great boldness was being filled with the Holy Spirit.  While that sounds neither academic nor particularly insightful, without tapping into the power of the Spirit, we’ll continue to be timid about testifying of Jesus, especially in our secular culture where believers are treated as delusional and unintellectual.  So, how can we tap into the Spirit’s power?  More knowledge, better music or sophisticated technology?  No, nothing can embolden us for Christ apart from praying to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  
And that’s what I did: as I forced myself to head toward where the park workers were, I offered a short but intense prayer, asking God to fill me with the Spirit and boldness.  Once I got there, I shared the gospel and offered a tract. But out of the three, only one took it—he assured me that he would read it.  Several months later, I encountered one of the workers.  After telling me that the man who had taken the tract had died, he said, “It was as if God was preparing him by having you share the gospel with him.”  I hope to see him in heaven.  Be bold for Christ; be filled with the Spirit.  Pray hard.    
Prayer: Lord, I praise and glorify You this morning.  I confess that I’ve made my reticence about sharing the gospel some sort of a virtue when, in fact, it was my timidity that led me to stay silent about You.  God, I need to be filled with the Spirit, so I can be bold for You.  Help me to pray persistently! Thank You. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today:  Numbers 36

Lunch Break Study

Read Exodus 4:1-3, 10-4:Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. . . . 10 But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” 13 But he said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” 14 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses. . . . 
Question to Consider
1. Timidity is the last thing that comes to our mind when thinking of Moses. But how does he come off here as God tells him to go to Egypt to lead Israel?  What does that mean at a personal level? 2. We talked about the need to be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be bold for Christ.  What does God do here for Moses, so that he can be emboldened to appear before the mighty Pharaoh?  3. Are you surprised by how God ultimately responded to Moses’ continual timidity?  Why would the Lord respond that way?  How about you?  Are you being bold for Christ?  
Notes
1. After 40 years of living in the wilderness, Moses became timid and was mired in self-doubt—unlike before when he “thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them” (Acts 7:25).  God preferred that state where Moses lacked confidence in himself, since he was now in a position to completely depend on Him.  In the same way, we often feel low about ourselves, but this is good news—God can use us too. 2. First, God shows Moses that just as an ordinary and weather-beaten staff can turn into God’s tool, he, too, can be transformed as God’s instrument. We need to experience that as well.  Second, God assures that He Himself will speak through Moses.  We need the same assurance to be bold for Him.  3. Why did God get angry at Moses?  Since Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please  God,” suffice it to say Moses’ continuous lack of trust in God’s ability to do what He said He would greatly displeased Him.   Our lack of faith in God is saying to Him, “I don’t think You can do it!”

Evening Reflection

As you wrap up this day, can you recall any opportunity you had to testify of Christ in some way?  Before you say no, you must recognize that anything can be useful to bring Christ into the conversations.  While jogging in America, if I saw the same person three times (due to my running route), I used to say to them, “Well, I’ve this rule that if I see the same person three times while jogging, I must tell them this: God expressed His ultimate love for us in Christ who died for our sins.”  Not sharing the gospel is a problem that we all face.   Would you pray for boldness?  Pray for someone whom you need to reach out to.  

REPOST  Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Cami King—now a friend of AMI—was first posted on February 3, 2016.  Cami served faithfully as a staff at several AMI churches in the past.  

Devotional Thoughts for This Morning

“A Church of Bells and Whistles, We Are Not”

Acts 2:42-47
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

At our church’s weekly prayer meeting last week, we prayed for our church, as we always do, and my pastor reminded us of something very simple but important. As he often says, “We’re not a fancy church. We don’t have a lot of bells and whistles. We want to be a group of people who truly love God and love others.” And as I prayed this simple prayer for my church, “God please teach us to love you with our whole hearts and love the people in the world whom you love so much,” I recalled our passage for today which describes the nature and growth of the early church. As the gospel went forth and the power of the Holy Spirit came, our brothers and sisters responded by devoting themselves completely to God and to one another. 
In our sophisticated, technological word, we often focus our attention on fancy programs and initiatives to grow, strengthen, and renew the church. And while vision is imperative and innovation is necessary, it’s important to remember what should always remain at the foundation of it all – a group of people persuaded of the Gospel and empowered by the Holy Spirit to love God and love others. Now that is a powerful combination. The church didn’t start out with a lot of fancy programs, but they impacted the world in amazing ways. Their conviction by the gospel (as we read earlier this week), and empowering by the Holy Spirit, led them to complete devotion – to the Word, community, worship, and prayer. Through this devotion, the Holy Spirit brought into being, from this small group of people, the Church we know it today. As we continue to do life together in the body of Christ, may we never lose sight of our heritage. May we challenge ourselves daily to greater devotion to God’s Word, God’s people, worship and prayer. And may we add to it (not replace it with) innovative and creative programs and initiatives that spread the Gospel further and grow the Church wider.  
Prayer: Gracious Lord, thank you for the Gospel – your salvation plan for me and for the world. Thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit to empower me to live the life Christ died to give. Make me a devoted follower of Jesus. Teach me to love your word, and your people. Teach me to pray and to live a life of worship. And through me and my local church community, may you expand your kingdom exponentially. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 35

Lunch Break Study

Read Ephesians 5:15-20: Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Questions to Consider

1. How would you summarize (or paraphrase) verse 15? How does this help you understand what Paul is saying? 
2. How can we avoid being foolish? What are some practical ways we come to “understand what the Lord’s will is”? 
3. What are some “opportunities” in your life right now? What are some ways you can be intentional about making the most of them?  

Notes

1. Paul is essentially saying – be intentional (paraphrase – “be intentional about what you do from day to day, exercising sound wisdom, not silly foolishness.”) Paul isn’t telling us to be on edge or walk on eggshells because we don’t want to “mess up.” What he is encouraging is intentionality and forethought into how we will spend each day.
2. Instead of lending ourselves to foolishness, we are encouraged to understand God’s will. We can do this in a few important ways – first through God’s word and prayer. As we read God’s word and commune with Him in prayer we come to know his will more. Also, as we see in the text, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and spend time in community, we also come to know God and His will more fully. Community is a huge part of coming to know the will of God, as the Spirit-filled believer is a powerful way God makes Himself know to the world.  
3. Spend time in personal reflection. 

Evening Reflection

Missionary and minister Andrew Murray once said, “God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.” While we began today considering the ways we’re called to devotion to God and His people, let us end it in reflection on God’s devotion to us. Devotion is defined as both “adherence to and constancy in a thing” and “steadfast attentiveness and unremitting care for a thing.” How have you experienced God’s steadfast attentiveness and unremitting care? Spend some time in thanksgiving. 

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on October 10, 2016, is provided by Pastor David Kwon who leads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.  David, a graduate of Drexel University and Columbia International University (M.Div.), was recently ordained. Congratulations

Devotional Thought for This Morning

“What Do You Know About Angels?”

Hebrews 1:4-7

Having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”? 6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” 7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

C.S. Lewis, in preface to his book Screwtape Letters, complains about the progressively distorted picture of angels that has come down to us through religious art.  He says: “Fra Angelico’s angels carry in their face and gesture the peace and authority of Heaven.  Later come the chubby infantile nudes of Raphael; finally, the soft, slim, girlish, and consolatory angles of nineteenth century art, shapes so feminine that they avoid being voluptuous only by their total insipidity…. they are a pernicious symbol.  In Scripture the visitation of an angel is always alarming; it has to begin by saying, ‘Fear not.’ The Victorian angel looks as if were going to say, ‘There, there.’” Perhaps, Lewis was a bit exaggerating, but his portrayal was certainly in line with some of the encounters recorded in Scripture.  For instance, when the prophet Isaiah saw the angel hovering around him, he was traumatized and in awe at the sight (Isaiah 6:1-6).  

So, who are angels and what are their main functions?  In short, God created angels as incorporeal beings (Heb. 1:14) endowed with free will whose main tasks are: first, continuously worshiping and praising God (Revelation 4:8); second, communicating God’s message to man (Acts 7:38, 53); third, ministering to believers (Psalm 34:7).  For instance, in the book of Acts (5:19, 12:6-11), we see them delivering believers from difficult circumstances; fourth, being God’s agents in the final earthly judgments and Second coming (Matthew 24:31).

So then, what is the point of the writer of Hebrews in writing about angels?  It goes back to the theme of the book, that Jesus is greater than even the angels who, as Lewis points out, often brought fear because of their holy and solemn presence.  This is important because some earlier believers might have thought that Jesus was just an angel or the highest of angels, but the Hebrews is very clear on this point:  Jesus is far superior than any angels.  

What does mean for us?  We ought to respond in worship as “all of God’s angels worship him” (v.6).  Often, we do not worship or feel like our hearts are in a state of worship because we forgot how superior He is.  Christ is greater than our circumstances, trials, material possessions, people in power, nations and all of creation!  How big is God to you this morning?  As you start this day, ask the Lord for a heart of reverence and worship.

Prayer: Lord, remind me again that you are greater than all things!  There is no one like our God.  I pray that my heart would worship properly in response to who you are.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 34

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Lunch Break Study

Read Psalm 95:1-10: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!3 For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, 9 when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. 10 For forty years I loathed that generation and said, “They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.” 11 Therefore I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.”

Questions to Consider

1. How does the Psalmist respond to God in this Psalm?
2. What kind of God do we see in v. 7?  
3. What does this Psalm teach us about worship?

Notes:

1. This Psalm is one of worship.  Notice the words that are used to describe worship: sing (v. 1), joyful noise (v. 1), bow down (v. 6.).  He is responding to the greatness of God.
2. God is our great Shepherd who cares for us and leads us.  He loves and cares for His people personally.  
3. We see that worship flows out of heart of joy and thanksgiving.  Worship starts with acknowledging His presence as the great King (v.3) and Maker (v. 6).  Let’s us respond in the same way!

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Evening Reflection

Today, we focused on the topic of worship.  One simple application is to worship Him in whatever form you feel comfortable.  You might want to go out in nature and look at His creation.  Another way may be to worship Him through song and the Word.  Whatever you do it, let’s worship with all of our hearts!

REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, first posted on November 21, 2016, is provided by Pastor Yohan Lee.  He is a friend of AMI who in the past has served as a staff at several AMI churches.  He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and Cairn University (MA).

Devotional Thought for This Morning

Fantasy Football, Anyone? 
Hebrews 10:1-4
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

How does the phrase “fantasy football” make you feel?  For the men (sorry to stereotype) who play it, you probably got a little giddy, because to you, FF represents your last bastion of childish fun in your otherwise mature, pressure-packed, overworked, and utterly responsible existence.  For the wives, girlfriends, children, or people who like to have normal conversations with the men in their lives (again, I know women play FF), the term “fantasy football” makes you roll your eyes (or convulse violently), because you know that from mid-August to late-December, your men will be engulfed by this nerdy addiction (think of it like the 21st century’s version of “Magic, The Gathering”).
I’m not going to go into great detail about the nuances of FF, but one thing you need to know is that by the halfway mark of the season, it becomes apparent that one or two teams are hopelessly out of the competition.  Now, when this happens, it is important for these teams to continue to try and not abandon the season altogether by not playing a full roster or making stupid lopsided trades.  This ensures integrity throughout the league.  In order to prevent poor teams from mailing it in, leagues will often institute a last place punishment, ranging from things as benign as a loser’s trophy, to the extreme of having to get a humiliating tattoo.  Other than to dissuade them from quitting, these types of punishments serve as lasting reminders of one’s ineptitude and failure.   
In verse 3 of today’s passage, the author of Hebrews tells us that part of the reason why God instituted the OT sacrificial system was to remind us of our sins.  The graphic ritual of animal sacrifice served as reminders of the gravity of our sin and our own ineptitude and failure to the holy standards of God.  But thanks be to God, who by sacrificing his Son on the cross did away with the old system, as well as our shame and guilt.  Because of Christ’s once and for all atoning sacrifice, we no longer need to be reminded of our failures; in fact, the opposite is true—meaning, we can and are expected to take glory in the cross.  This morning, ask yourself: Am I trying to make old sacrifices by reenacting my sin, or am I living the victory of the gospel?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the cross.  Thank You that I no longer need to live in the shame of sin, nor do I need to be haunted by my past.  Help me to live in the victory You had over death and the cross.  Thank You that in Christ, I am a winner, not a loser!  
Bible Reading for Today: Numbers 33

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Lunch Break Study

Read Romans 8:31-39:What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j] 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Questions to Consider
1. Have you ever felt that people, circumstances, or even God were against you?  How does this passage speak into those feelings?   2. What is the picture of Christ given in this passage? 3. What does it mean for you to be “more than a conqueror”?
Notes
1. First, God is for us, not against us.  Second, notice the phrasing of v. 31:  Paul doesn’t say that no one will ever oppose you or make your life difficult (we can expect this); rather, he is saying that having God on your side is better than having no opposition (though it may not always feel this way).   2. In verse 34, Christ is depicted as interceding on our behalf—we can think of Him as our defense lawyer.  3. Personal/application question.  

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Evening Reflection

Today’s theme was living in victory and laying aside sin and shame.  How has your thought life been lately?  Do you live in the freedom and power of Christ, or do you dwell in shame and guilt?  Do you truly believe that you are more than a conqueror?  Does your life reflect this truth?  

REPOST Today’s Spiritual Food for Thought, first posted on January 31, 2016, is provided by Mei Lan Thallman—now a friend of AMI—who had served at Grace Covenant Church UC (now Philadelphia) for a long time.   

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“War Room”

Exodus 17:8-16

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord is my Banner. 16 He said, “Because hands were lifted up against the throne of the Lord, the Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation.”

War Room is one of my favorite movies of 2015.  What I love the most is its portrayal to the audience of this essential, foundational truth that: prayer is the battleground on which we wage and win wars.  If you have not seen it, please make a point to watch it with your family, friends and small group. It will open your eyes to see prayer in a new way.

In this passage, I see this truth lived out in Moses’ leadership.  When the Amalekites attacked the Israelites in the desert, Moses had the foresight to devise a warfare strategy to combat the enemies on two dimensional battlegrounds: He ordered Joshua to lead a group of men to fight off the physical enemies.  Meanwhile, he appointed core leaders Aaron and Hur to join him to battle the spiritual forces on the top of the hill, with the staff of God lifted high. The Scripture points out an interesting dynamic in this strategic strategy: First, they must take both battlegrounds seriously and fight in unity against the enemy.   Second, even though the battles were fought in different dimensions, they were intricately interrelated. The writer of Exodus points out in verse 11, “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.”  Third, they persevered as a team and overcame the enemy.  
Jesus warns us in John 16:33 that we will face life’s many battles.  In order to have victory, we must remember not only to focus our attention and energy on the physical battleground of circumstances, relationships and people, but also to be alert and mindful of the unseen spiritual battleground:  Ephesians 6:12 says: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

As we start this New Year, let us strive to form a new habit of calling upon God in prayer as our first response to all things.  Let’s have the wisdom of Moses to overcome life’s challenges by praying on our knees and praying with others as a team until victory is at hand! 
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, stir in me a deeper understanding and desire to begin each day by taking the time to be plugged into the Power Source – which is You.  Thank you, Lord, for modeling for us an intimate prayer life with the Father, for the gift of prayer as a means to know and be known by You, and for the powerful weapon of prayer to overcome the Enemy, and advance God’s kingdom on earth. Amen.

Bible Reading for Today:  Numbers 32