S. O. A. P.

Here’s Your 90 second AM Devotional!

S-cripture:

Acts 8:8

So there was great joy in that city.

O-bservation:

This is the earliest and first report of Philip the deacon’s ministry. He was one of many Christian believers scattered everywhere following the stoning of Stephen, another one of the initial seven deacons. But when they were scattered, the Bible says they preached everywhere they went. Philip went into Samaria to preach, and when he did, miraculous healings took place, and people would scream in his meetings as demons would come out of many (vs. 8). The very next verse says, “So there was great joy in that city (vs. 9). “The Joy The First Christians Had” was because of people screaming as demons would come out of them and the healings that took place in Philip’s ministry.

A-pplication:

My, my, my! That is in the 8th chapter of the book of Acts in the Bible. This is the book St. Luke wrote to record the events that led to and what happened as the Early Church was birthed. Have you lived on a steady diet of paralyzed people being healed in your church meetings and people shrieking because demons are coming out of them during the church service? Neither have I. Oh, in my life and ministry I’ve seen physical miracles happen, and I’ve seen people delivered, and shriek as the demon came out of them, but rarely have I ever seen those things happen regularly in my church or any church. What does that say about us? Maybe it says we’ve got things pretty much under control. I’m not sure that’s what God had in mind. I hope the Lord doesn’t let me sleep at night until I have real joy like “The Joy The First Christians Had!”

P-rayer:

Dear Jesus,

I love you. I want you in my life! I need you to help me have this kind of joy. I’m talking about “The Joy The First Christians Had. Amen