The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 11 June 2019 – Christ Resurrection Power The Gospel
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TOPIC: Are You Of Christ?
READ: Acts 11: 19 -30 King James Version (KJV)
19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only.
20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch.
23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
THE MESSAGE:
Our text explains that the continued persecution in Judea, of the early Church, especially after the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1-4); led to believers scattering to faraway places. In those places, they met and preached the gospel to both the Jews and Gentiles because the hand of the Lord was with them (verse 4). Their preaching was confirmed by miraculous works as Jesus had promised them (Mark 16:17-20). As a result, the Church grew and expanded in number and power. In order to entrench the word of God in the lives of new converts, Barnabas, a man gifted in the teaching of the Word, was sent from Jerusalem to Antioch to build up and encourage believers there.
Realising that Paul had been chosen by God to be a special apostle to the gentiles, Barnabas sent for him to come to Antioch (verse 2). It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. The reason is that they were said to function as a group who separated themselves from the commonly accepted religious practices of the community. In other words, the name Christian means One separated, and is of Christ.”
Are you of Christ? Have you been separated from sin? Jesus Christ is available, give Him room in your heart.
PRAYER: Lord, I give You my heart, keep me safe in Your loving arms.
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