DCLM Higher Everyday 17 October 2024 — Purposeful Team Players – Part 2
DCLM Higher Everyday 17 October 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Purposeful Team Players – Part 2
Topic: Purposeful Team Players – Part 2
Text: Acts 16:16-26
16And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
Key Verse: “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them” (Acts 16:25).
Message
Paul and Silas called and joined together by the will of God to do the work of God, set their eyes on the commission of Christ. They laboured together in the vineyard of God, travelled together to distant lands to proclaim the liberating gospel of Christ. They performed miracles through the power of God who strengthened them. They suffered together under the fury of evil men and evil spirits who were rattled by the thunder of their proclamations. In their suffering and persecutions, they prayed and sang together to the One who was able to deliver them. And they saw the power and miracle of God as He broke down the prison doors to deliver them. What a great team! What a winning team! What a purposeful team!
Also Read: Open Heaven 16 October 2024 – Purposeful Team Players – Part 1
From the biblical account of Paul and Silas, we learn the value of faithful companions and dedicated servants of the Lord in spreading the gospel. Paul and Silas were like-minded and equally committed to the service of God. Their loyalty to the gospel and to each other is a model for believers today.
Quote: Paul and Silas were like-minded
Challenge: Believers ought to work together as a team.
Prayer for today: Lord, make me a faithful team player.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
