Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 21 2025 | Acts 9:5-9 KEY VERSE: “Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus." Acts 9:8 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   Saul’s physical blindness mirrored his spiritual condition. Though he had been zealous for God, he lacked the true vision of God’s purpose. Through his blindness, God humbled Saul, preparing him to see with his eyes and heart. This period of darkness became a catalyst for clarity as Saul encountered God’s transformative grace.   Sometimes, we may also face seasons where we feel "blinded"—unable to see what lies ahead or understand God’s plans. These moments can be disorienting, but they’re also growth opportunities. We often find clarity and renewed purpose in our humility and dependence on God. Trust God in seasons of uncertainty.   God intends for us to see not only with our eyes but also with our hearts. For with Him, vision is not only with the eyes but also with the heart. He places His plans in our hearts as we yield to Him, align our will, and open our eyes to see their manifestation with our involvement.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: When you cannot see ahead, seek God and align your heart to his will. Divine direction will come to you. PRAYER: Lord, when I cannot see the way forward, help me to trust You. Open the eyes of my heart to understand Your will and follow Your calling. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 141:   1 Samuel 3 — The Lord Calls Samuel DAILY word study: OPENED HIS EYES The Greek word translated as “opened his eyes” in Acts 9:8 is anoigō (ἀνοίγω), which means “to open” and often refers to giving access or understanding. In Acts 9:8, when Saul “opened his eyes,” the physical action carried spiritual weight. The word anoigō is used throughout Scripture not only for physical sight, but also for spiritual awareness (Luke 24:31, Acts 16:14). Saul’s eyes opened, but his vision did not return—because God was teaching him to look deeper than sight. Reflection: God sometimes allows us to lose what we trust so He can show us what we need. Real sight often begins where our strength ends.

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 20 2025 | Acts 9:3-4 KEY VERSE: “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’" Acts 9:3-4 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   Saul's journey to Damascus was interrupted by an encounter that would change his life forever. In his zeal, he thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians, but Jesus revealed the truth to him in a dramatic moment of divine intervention. This encounter reminds us that Jesus can reach us even in our rebellion, error, or pride, and radically turn our hearts back to Him. In our lives, we may also find ourselves heading in directions that seem right but are contrary to God’s plan. The grace of Jesus often meets us in unexpected ways—through a sudden realisation, a challenging situation, or a word from someone. Like Saul’s encounter, these moments invite us to realign our lives with God’s purpose.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Reflect on how Jesus has met you in unexpected ways. Are you zealously pursuing some venture or path you have not received clearance from God? Seek His face and realign your will to His purpose. Submit it to God for His approval.   PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for pursuing me even when I stray. Open my eyes to see Your truth and guide me to walk in Your will. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 140:   1 Samuel 2 - Hannah’s Song and Eli’s Wicked Sons DAILY word study: FLASHED The Greek word translated as “flashed” in Acts 9:3 is periastraptō (περιαστράπτω), which means “to flash around” or “to shine all about. This rare verb appears only in Acts 9:3. It expresses a burst of light that surrounds completely and unmistakably. Saul didn’t see a flicker - he was overtaken by glory. The light disrupted his mission, vision, and balance. Reflection: Jesus still shines with force. His presence doesn’t always whisper; sometimes it flashes. It exposes direction and demands a response. Ask yourself: when Jesus flashes light on your path, do you pause, or do you press ahead?

Rev. Tetteh-Annor Larbi | May 19 2025 | Acts 9:1-2 KEY VERSE: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way… he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem." Acts 9:1-2 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   Before his dramatic conversion, Saul was zealously committed to the cause of the religious leaders who opposed Jesus. He believed he was serving God, but in truth, he was carrying out the agenda of those who rejected the Messiah. Though passionate and sincere, his actions were rooted in error, driven by human authority rather than divine direction. This serves as a warning: it is possible to be zealous yet entirely misled. Today’s devotional calls us to slow down, examine our motivations, and ask, am I doing what God desires, or am I just fulfilling someone else’s agenda? In a world full of pressure—social, religious, cultural - it’s easy to confuse God’s will with the loudest voices around us. Saul didn’t question the orders he received because they aligned with his upbringing and environment. But this is a time to step back and ask hard questions: Who influences my decisions? Am I following truth or tradition? Am I being used to serve a purpose that isn’t God's? These reflections lead us to repentance and redirection, just as they did for Saul on the road to Damascus. God eventually interrupted Saul’s journey with a blinding light and a convicting voice. We are offered a similar opportunity—not through dramatic visions, but through quiet conviction. When we humble ourselves before God, He shows us where we’ve strayed and gently calls us back to His path. We must be willing to stop, listen, and realign ourselves with the voice of Christ rather than the demands of others.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Take a step back, stop, and reconsider your actions and opinions. What motivates them? Are you doing God’s bidding, or you are in the shadows of executing someone’s agenda? Realign and seek God’s will, and act now.   PRAYER: Lord, help me to see clearly whose voice I’m following. If I’m being used for purposes that are not Yours, open my eyes and redirect my steps. I want to do Your will, not simply please others. Lead me into truth and obedience.” For your dear name’s sake. Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 139:   1 Samuel 1 - Hannah’s Prayer and Samuel’s Birth DAILY word study: BREATHING The Greek word for breathing used in Acts 9:1 is empneō, which means “to breathe in or out.” It is used figuratively in this verse to show that Saul lived and moved in threat and violence, breathing it in deeply and breathing it out through his actions. This word paints a vivid picture—Saul wasn’t just speaking threats. He lived and breathed them. The air he took in and pushed out carried hostility toward Jesus's disciples. His zeal was full-bodied and constant, yet it had no divine approval. Reflection: Be mindful of what fills your inner life. What you breathe out in action often reveals what you’ve taken in from influence and conviction. Ask: Am I filled with the Spirit—or with someone else’s voice?

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 18 2025 | Acts 8:36-40 KEY VERSE: “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing." Acts 8:39 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The Christian walk is an exciting journey in which we are exposed to the thrills of God’s fantastic adventures in various forms. The narratives concerning the biblical characters sometimes seem extraordinary, out of this world and heart-pulsating! Phillip moves from a very successful ministry situation in Samaria in obedience to the voice of God, to a desert road where he meets an important foreign official who receives the Gospel from his mouth. Philip is given the privilege of baptising the Ethiopian eunuch, but the adventure is not over. We must hear Acts 8:39; “ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.”     The excitement of a rapture-like carrying away, whisked away as it were, escorted by God as it were, translated by God as it were, suddenly taken away by the Holy Spirit of God to his new assignment in a place called Azotus to spread the Gospel all the way to Caesarea. Wow, what a breathtaking experience to be had by anyone, anytime, anywhere.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: You can have an exciting experience of life with God in your own way. You can trust God to show up in your life in ways that steal the breath from those who hear your story. You do not need to be carried to Azotus, but you can talk about how you were moved from sinfulness to holiness, from being an ordinary human being to becoming a conscious child of God. That is an exciting life, enjoy it. PRAYER: Dear Father in Heaven, I am grateful for the new birth and the exciting experience of becoming a child of God and a member of your blessed, holy family. And now, Lord, I pray, grant me the ear that ears, and the heart that obeys, so that moved and led by your Holy Spirit, I will know the thrill of walking with   you and walking before you, and enjoy the thrilling life from anywhere to my Azotus. For Christ’s dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 138:   Ruth 4 - Redemption and Restoration DAILY word study: AWAY The word away in Acts 8:39 (Greek: ἥρπασεν, hērpasen) means “to snatch, seize suddenly.” It conveys swift removal, used elsewhere in reference to powerful divine action (see 2 Corinthians 12:2-4). Philip’s removal wasn’t random. It was Spirit-directed. He had completed one assignment and was suddenly taken to the next. God’s Spirit moves people purposefully. Reflection: You may not vanish like Philip, but the Spirit can move you into the next phase of your calling. Don’t resist divine transitions. Stay ready for Spirit-led change.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 17 2025 | Acts 8:36-38 KEY VERSE: “ As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptised?" Acts 8:36 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   Different Christian groups practice baptism in different ways and for different age minimums. What is essential is that there is an understanding that the Lord Jesus instructed that those who believe in the Gospel of the Kingdom are to be baptised. The Ethiopian Eunuch understood the significance of baptism as an initiatory rite of conversion from one religious or spiritual condition to another. As a Gentile convert to Judaism, he would have gone through a water baptism to mark his conversion. Now that he stood on the verge of another conversion, he asked for water baptism to mark that new beginning. Water baptism does not save the human soul; it is the heart conversion which happens when we believe in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus for our sins, which precedes the water baptism, it is the pledge of a new conscience to God, that settles the mater of our soul’s destiny (1 Peter 3:21). This clarification is helped in the context of our text when in Acts 8:37(NIV), often presented as a footnote in some translations of the Bible, we read, ‘ Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." The eunuch answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Have you believed in Jesus Christ as your Saviour who died in your place, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world? If so, have you been baptised in obedience to His instructions? If not, please talk to your church leaders and get this done quickly. It is your first demonstration of obedience to your new Master. PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the ordinance of baptism. Thank you for the significance of my new life in Christ. Please help me to live the baptised life; baptised by the Spirit in the spirit realm and baptised by water to identify with Christ in His death and resurrection unto a new life. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 137:   Ruth 3 - Ruth’s Bold Request DAILY word study: WATER The word water in Acts 8:36 is ὕδωρ (hydōr) in Greek. It refers to natural water - used for washing, cleansing, and life. In baptism, it symbolises spiritual cleansing and death to the old self. For the Ethiopian eunuch, water marked the threshold of a new beginning. He already believed. Now he sought to seal it through the ordinance Jesus commanded. Baptism is not about the water’s power—it is about what the heart has already believed and received. Reflection: Water cannot save, but water speaks. It testifies that the believer has identified with Christ in death and resurrection. See Romans 6:3-4 for the clear link between baptism and the new life in Christ.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 16 2025 | Acts 8:32-35 KEY VERSE: “³² He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation, he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth." Acts 8:32-33 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   It is a normal human response to want to cry out and make an impression when we are wronged. God's plan to save His fledgling sinful creation demanded that the Lord of glory consciously and intentionally sacrifice Himself for us and for our redemption. This necessity was so strong that the God-Man Jesus chose to absorb the pain and humiliation of the process without claiming His rights or asserting His innocence. In the text of Isaiah, which the Ethiopian eunuch was reading, a dimension of the self-humiliation of the Son of God, God in human flesh, to save human souls, is captured. The language is mild but captures a profound truth;  "³² He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. ³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth."   Christ left His glorious throne above to come to a dark, sin-stained world. He chose to submit to the will of the Father rather than free Himself from those who arrested Him and maltreated Him. In his distress, He did not defend Himself. In the crucifixion, He did not call down legions of angels to free Him. He took the blows we should have taken.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: The Lord Jesus kept to the humiliation and pain and bore the cross to free us from our eternal Hell. Will you keep to the righteous life and tough ministry, in spite of pain, to honour Him and glorify Him? PRAYER: Man of sorrows, help me bear the pains imposed by my following you. Grant me grace to stay strong, humble and quiet when my faith is tried. Hallelujah, what a Saviour! For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 136:   Ruth 2 - Ruth Meets Boaz DAILY word study: HUMILIATION The word humiliation in Acts 8:33 is translated from the Greek ταπεινώσεως (tapeinōseōs), which means lowness, humility, or abasement. It reflects a state of being made low, stripped of dignity, or brought down in status. Isaiah prophesied this about the Messiah, and Philip affirmed it about Jesus. Christ did not just experience suffering—He allowed Himself to be shamed, misjudged, and treated as worthless. This was not weakness but submission to the Father’s will. Reflection:  Humiliation marked the path to our salvation. Jesus did not protest. He did not shift blame. He bore it all and stayed silent. His silence shouted redemption. See Philippians 2:5–8 for Paul’s powerful echo of this truth.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 15 2025 | Acts 8:32-35 KEY VERSE: “ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus." Acts 8:35 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The Good News of salvation is that God loved His fallen, sinful human creation. He sent Jesus Christ to come and die for us and in our place. If we believe that He stood in our place, we will no longer come under God’s judgment and condemnation. Instead, we enter into a new and everlasting life. This is the underlying theme of the whole Bible from the Old Testament to the New Testament.   We must not buy into the view that the Gospel is a New Testament concept. From the text of Isaiah 53:7-8, which the Ethiopian eunuch was reading, Philip was able to explain how Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the Saviour of the world who offered Himself freely for human salvation.   We must see the revelation of the eternal plan and purposes of God throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament. When the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ met the two confused disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:25-27 (NIV), we read, “ ²⁵ He said to them, 'How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?"  ²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself .”   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you able to see Christ and His redemptive work in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament? Look carefully and you will see how the Good News is beautifully predicted in the Old Testament, and wonderfully fulfilled in the New Testament. PRAYER: Lord, like the two disciples on the Emmaus Road, I often fail to see the Christ and the Good News in the Old Testament. Please help me understand that I might see wondrous things out of your Word. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen. THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 135:   Ruth 1 - Naomi and Ruth’s Loyalty DAILY   word study : GOOD NEWS The phrase good news comes from the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion), meaning a message of victory, salvation, or joyful announcement. In ancient times, heralds brought euangelion after a battle—the king had won.   Philip didn’t teach an idea—he told a true story of victory. He declared the good news of Jesus, starting from Isaiah 53, and explained how Jesus fulfilled the prophecy as the suffering Servant.   Reflection: Jesus stands at the centre of all Scripture. Whether you read from Moses, the prophets, or the gospels, the Good News speaks of Him. Look again. Listen again. See how God planned redemption from the beginning. See Romans 1:1-4 for Paul’s summary of the Gospel promised through the prophets.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 14 2025 | Acts 8:26-31 KEY VERSE: “. . . So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." Acts 8:31 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   In our walk with God, He calls on us to obey His Word, which is written in the Bible and spoken to us as individuals in various ways (sermons, counsel, dreams, music, etc.). When we hear from God and follow His voice gladly, we are ushered into God’s blessings. In God’s dealings with Philip in Acts 8, there is a progressive interesting movement that shows obedience to God leads to the blessings of God. When Philip received the angelic message to go to the desert road (verse 26), he set out to obey the directive (verse 27). He did not have any idea who was involved and what the assignment was to be. Still, in the process of obedience, he had the privilege of meeting a very important man whom he might never have had the privilege of meeting: the Minister of Finance of the wealthy Queen Candance of the Ethiopians. Further directive by the Spirit to Philip was “ Go to that chariot and stay near it ", Acts 8:29 (NIV). Philip’s response was to run up effortfully to the chariot. He hears the man in the chariot reading a portion of the Book of Isaiah and asks if the Ethiopian understood what he was reading. Acknowledging his need for someone to interpret the text to him, the Ethiopian “ invited Philip to come up and sit with him .” Acts 8:31 (NIV).   Philip’s persistent and joyful obedience led him to sit in the chariot of a Minister of Finance, with the privilege of teaching him the rich Word of God.   We must be attentive to God and follow His directives to us. When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you able to hear from God? Do you willingly follow the voice of God? If you need help, please talk to someone who can help you tune your heart to God and follow the thoughts of God that come to you. They will lead you to blessings. PRAYER: Faithful God who is no person’s debtor, you reward those who follow your instructions. Please help me hear you more clearly and follow you more closely, day by day, so that I might walk into your blessings. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 134:   Judges 20-21 - War Against Benjamin; Wives for the Benjamites DAILY word study : INVITED The word invited in Acts 8:31 comes from the Greek (parekalesen), from the verb (parakaleō), meaning to call alongside, to urge, to summon with favour. It implies both a welcome and a request to come close. The Ethiopian official didn’t just allow Philip into the chariot. He welcomed him with honour and need. God used Philip’s obedience to open a door of influence that couldn’t be forced. He was invited in. Reflection: God places us where people are ready to receive what He has deposited in us. We don’t need to push our way in. If we obey and stay sensitive, doors will open, just like they did for Philip. See Luke 14:10 for another example of being called up by invitation.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 13 2025 | Acts 8:26-29 KEY VERSE: “The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'” Acts 8:29 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   When God has an assignment for us, He will locate us where we are, interrupt what we are doing and redirect us for His purposes. God intended to send the Good News to Africa, and He had prepared a man from Ethiopia who would carry the message to the continent. For this purpose, God stepped into the very successful ministry of Philip in Samaria and sent him, " Go south to the road - the desert road - that   goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." Acts 8:26 (NIV).   From the public stage of the massive rallies, God asked Philip through the angel to go to the desert road. Certainly, the desert road would not have the big audiences that Philip had become accustomed to. When he obeyed and set out for the assigned place, he came into contact with the Ethiopian eunuch, the man God had targeted to carry the message to Africa. The Spirit directed Phillip.  ‘The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot and stay near it."’ Acts 8:29 (NIV). We need to be sensitive to God in very practical ways; an angel spoke to Philip, the Holy Spirit spoke to Philip, and we must obey this sense of God by which He sends us to serve His purposes in this world.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Can you hear the voice of God amid your busy, productive activities? Have you identified the direction in which God is leading you, and can you see the chariots with your assignment? Stay close to those chariots. PRAYER: Dear Lord, your ways always surprise my thoughts and are always right. Please help me to hear your voice in the midst of all that I do, and please guide my heart to respond in obedience to your leading. For the chariots you bring my way, Lord, help me move to them and stay nearby until I serve your purpose. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 133:   Judges 19 - The Levite’s Concubine DAILY word study: STAY The word stay in Acts 8:29 is translated from the Greek κολλήθητι (kollēthēti), from the root κολλάω (kollaō), meaning to glue, cling, or attach oneself closely to something. The Holy Spirit didn’t just tell Philip to approach the chariot, but to stay close—intentionally, closely, attentively. The word carries a sense of devotion and physical nearness, not momentary contact. Reflection: God often calls us to not just step into an assignment but to remain near it with attention and consistency. Chariots represent people, places, and moments God places in our path. When He tells you to stay, do not wander. See Ruth 2:8-9 for another use of staying close in divine positioning.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 12 2025 | Acts 8:25 KEY VERSE: “When they had testified and proclaimed the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages.” Acts 8:25 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   “Peter and John returned to Jerusalem.” Why did they not stay in Samaria? They preached the Gospel in many Samaritan villages, which could have formed the basis of a new and vibrant ministry, possibly rivalling the Jerusalem church. They could have named it THE SAMARITAN CHURCH OF THE HANDS-LAYING APOSTOLIC DUO. But “Peter and John returned to Jerusalem.”   Christian faith is entered into individually, but that personal choice immediately makes us part of the universal Body of Christ, the Church (1 Cor. 12:13). We are born again alone to be grown in sanctification and ministry together with other Christians. Christian ministry must not be freelance and unaccountable.  The early Apostles of the Lord felt a sense of responsibility and accountability to the leadership of the Church in Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul in his time found the Church in Antioch as his home and sending-church and reported his missionary exploits back to that base (Acts 18:22-23).   We must have a church-base for any and all the many gifts God has given us as individuals. No amount of gifting should make us detach from a local church commitment, which becomes our reference point and our reporting ground. For individuals with itinerant gifts like singing, playing instruments, preaching, or teaching, whatever our gifts, we must submit to some pastoral authority in some local church so that God’s work in and through us is seen as the extension of the life of the Church together.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Are you committed to a local church to which you are accountable in your Christian walk and ministry? Keep it up; it is important to your walk with God. PRAYER: Lord, thank you for your Church and its expression in local churches. Please help me love my local church and find the support I need for my life and ministry. Lord bless our church leaders so that they will be a blessing to all of their members. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 132:   Judges 17-18 - Micah and the Danites DAILY word study: RETURNED The word returned  in Acts 8:25 comes from the Greek ὑπέστρεψαν (hupestrepsan) , a form of ὑποστρέφω (hupostrephō),  which means to turn back, to go back to a place one came from.  It implies intentionality and responsibility. Peter and John had fulfilled their mission in Samaria. Instead of staying to build a new base, they returned to Jerusalem, their spiritual and leadership centre. The word here shows more than travel; it reflects submission to spiritual order. Reflection When God gives you a platform or a gift, don’t disconnect from your base. Go back. Stay rooted. Like Peter and John, let your journey end where accountability and spiritual covering remain strong. See Acts 14:26-28 for another example of returning to a sending church.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 11 2025 | Acts 8:18-24 KEY VERSE: “Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.” Acts 8:24 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The God revealed in the Bible is a God of principles and will not condone among His people what He condemns in unbelievers. Concerning God's holiness, the concept of sin becomes understandable. When we offend God's being and ways, we sin against Him, and because He is a just moral Being, He punishes wrongdoing.  When we sin against ourselves, our neighbours, and ultimately against God, it is necessary that we seek to make amends, and quickly and genuinely so, if we are to be forgiven and restored into fellowship with God. When Peter confronted the wrongful heart of Simon in his thinking that he could buy the graces of God with money and painted to him the true dark picture of his heart, which made him unsuited to be used by God in the way he was asking for. Simon’s response was one of swift admission of wrongdoing, and a call for intervention of godly men for the avoidance of the possible negative consequences that could have befallen him; Then Simon answered, "Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me." ( Acts 8:24).   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: How do you respond when God directly or through other people brings you awareness of some wayward ways? Do you seek to make excuses and dig yourself in deeper? Or do you fall at the foot of God and seek divine grace and forgiveness? What about where the offence is clearly against your fellow humans? PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I worship your majestic holiness and declare that there is none like you in purity and perfect holiness. I acknowledge that I sin, by my thoughts, words, actions, and inactions. Please give me a heart that recognises sin and seeks to make amends quickly. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 131:   Judges 16 - Samson and Delilah; His Death DAILY word study: HAPPEN In Acts 8:24, the word translated as “happen” comes from the Greek ἐπέλθῃ (epelthē), from the verb ἐπέρχομαι (eperchomai), meaning to come upon, to overtake, or to happen suddenly. It describes something that arrives with force or impact, often unexpectedly. Simon’s plea—“Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me”—shows his fear that the judgment Peter warned of could come upon him at any moment. The word choice emphasises the certainty and seriousness of divine consequences, not mere possibilities. This was no light matter; Simon understood that unless he repented, God's judgment would overtake him decisively. Reflection Simon’s plea shows that God’s warnings demand action. Conviction is not the end goal—repentance is. When God exposes sin, respond quickly before judgment overtakes you.

Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 10 2025 | Acts 8:18-23 KEY VERSE: “¹⁸ When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money ¹⁹ and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:18-19 (NIV)   MESSAGE:   The English language has coined the word SIMONY, possibly from this biblical incident of Simon trying to trade in the free, gracious gifts of God. The Church must wake up to Simon in all his forms. Peter did the right thing by confronting the sin of Simon right there and then. Peter reached into the spirit of Simon and laid bare his true spiritual state, controlled by a materialistic worldview that thinks spiritual relevance and power can be purchased with money, though he had been born again.   When we try to use money to buy spiritual gifts and positions in the Church or to influence decisions of the Church, it shows that our hearts are not right, and we may not be truly part of God’s movement of the time, even though we may be truly born again. Simony has a close relative called cronyism, and they have two cousins called tribalism and racism. These are sinful attitudes and behaviours that rear their ugly heads wherever God’s Church is, and work through hearts that need some circumcision.   FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE: Lay your heart bare before God and find out if there are any seeds of manipulation by money or seeking to control God’s Church with the money that you give to the Church. PRAYER: Lord, I reject simony, racism, tribalism, pride, and all behaviours and attitudes that show my heart is not right. Cleanse my heart, O God, and let me be used mightily by you for your glory and honour and for the blessings of your people. For your dear Name’s sake,   Amen.   THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING. SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!! The 365 DAILY BIBLE READING Day 130:   Judges 15 - Samson Defeats the Philistines DAILY word study: SIMONY The term Simony comes from Simon Magus in Acts 8. The word entered church vocabulary by the 11th century, derived from Latin simonia and Old French simonie. Simony refers to the sin of buying or selling spiritual gifts, church offices, or sacred things. Simon thought God’s power could be purchased like merchandise. His heart craved the benefits of the Spirit, not the Spirit Himself. Reflection This story presses a hard question: Do you want God or only His gifts? Whenever faith becomes a transaction instead of a surrender, we risk falling into Simon’s trap. See 1 Timothy 6:5–10 for Paul’s strong warnings about treating godliness as a means of gain.