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November 20 Daily Reading- Read the Bible in 1 Year
2 Plays7 minutes ago
NOW AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES on YouTube!! YouTube has enabled automatic dubbing for my channel! This is still in experimental mode so translations may contain some errors, but I feel like God has given this event the Spiritual Gift of Tongues! Thank you, God!
Languages available for you to watch this event on YouTube are: Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Dutch, and Polish. WOW! Thank you, God for spreading the word about reading Your Word! I am still figuring out whether dubbing will be enabled on the audio version/Podcast available on YouTube Music. In the meantime, if you would like to hear today's reading in a different language head over to my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@IntheFamilyWayCoaching/videos
If you would like to download my FREE calendar for keeping track of your commitment to read the Bible every day, you can find that on my site, here: https://www.inthefamilywaycoaching.com/pages/read-the-bible-in-1-year
Monthly memberships to support this event can be purchased on my site, here: https://www.inthefamilywaycoaching.com/offering_packages
Today we will read Acts Chapter 27.
In our reading today Paul gave his testimony to King Agrippa while he was visiting governor Festus. Paul enlightened us today with some new information about his very first encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus- that Jesus told him it was difficult for him when he was going the wrong way. Paul also mentioned in his testimony today that God was helping him in everything he did, even that very day. While listening to Paul's testimony Festus shouted out that Paul had become so educated that he had lost his mind and King Agrippa asked Paul if Paul expected him to become a believer with just a short speech. Paul responded that whether it was a short time coming or a long time coming, he prayed that King Agrippa and all those listening would become followers of Jesus, just as he was.
In our discussion for daily application we will talk about how things ARE difficult for us when we go the wrong way because Jesus is not with us and even though it can seem as though things are difficult for us when we DO go the right way, during everything we go through Jesus will always be with us. In fact, Jesus taught us that He will ALWAYS be with us, even to the end of the age! So we can be comforted by the fact that no matter what we endure, we will never be alone through it and God will always help us, just the way He helped Paul!
If you enjoyed today's reading and feel like God has lit YOUR light please click the LIGHT button (it looks like a thumbs up or a heart) and consider subscribing to or following my channel, if you have not done so already.
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Transcript
Introduction and Welcome
00:00:03
Speaker
Welcome back one and all. Today is November 20th's daily reading out of the Day by Day Kids Bible written by Karen Henley. In case you don't already know, my name is Robin. i will be your reader today. It is my pleasure to bring to you this daily Bible reading event.
00:00:22
Speaker
If you are following along on that bookmarking commitment calendar and are ready to cross off off your days, go ahead and get it out. Get your sticker ready. Get whatever you are using to cross off those days because we're going to hear the Bible today.
00:00:39
Speaker
Thank you so much for following along, whether you are listening on your podcast or whether you're watching the video somewhere.
Technical Apology and Personal Reflection
00:00:45
Speaker
I'm so glad that you are hungry for more of God's word and that you have come back to hear today's reading.
00:00:52
Speaker
I want to apologize. There was some technical delay. So for those of you who prefer the audio version, it did not publish until November 20th. I uploaded it on November 19th. However, apparently the podcasting hosting site had a technical issue where the server or something that was responsible for the uploading to the RSS feeds, which is the fancy word for the way that the podcast gathered my posting from my hosting site,
00:01:26
Speaker
It got backed up and I woke up this morning and I was checking on my feeds and looking for all my proper downloads and it wasn't there. There were two uploads.
00:01:40
Speaker
And I started freaking out. i'm like, what is going on? Man, I tell you, the past couple of weeks, I just feel like if there is going to be a problem, it is going to happen. But you know what? Just like we talked about yesterday, it could be worse. ah Yesterday, my husband was driving on the way home and the battery died in the car. He didn't have enough battery and he should have in order to get home.
00:02:05
Speaker
And i had to go bail him out with that and call AAA. He was three miles from home. Three miles. So that took part of my evening. But you know what? God knew that was going to happen and he prepared me. And I did not have work yesterday afternoon. So that allowed me to be there and do that for him.
00:02:26
Speaker
So it could have been worse. And then today it could have been worse because it could be still broken. I started flipping out, trying to repost it, trying to think, well, maybe there was a problem when I posted it when i uploaded it to my site and so some of you may see what i posted as a repost for november 19th daily reading so if you see that that's why and i put that in the description that there had been a technical issue and that if you see two sorry about that i was trying really hard to get it to post this morning and um it did finally post so i was very thankful but So I have manually deleted that from the the um the the the hosting site, but you may still see it as a reposting for those of you on audio. Not everybody maybe reads the description. i really have no idea if any of you actually read the description, which gives a synopsis of each day's reading, as well as the Bible verses or the chapters, rather, that we are reading from each day. as well as our daily application. There are also links to the calendar in there. And I don't know if anybody actually reads those descriptions, but and if you did, then you would see that description in there. And if not, that's why I'm giving you this description now as to what happened with yesterday's audio portion.
Paul's Defense Before King Agrippa
00:03:55
Speaker
So I'm sorry about that.
00:03:58
Speaker
More things out of my control, but guess what? God is always in control. So we are going to be seeing some of that again today in our reading as we head into Acts chapter 26.
00:04:12
Speaker
And today we're going to be hearing how Paul will now be speaking to King Agrippa and his wife, Drusilla, who, if you recall yesterday, made a very ceremonious entry.
00:04:27
Speaker
and are asking to hear about what Paul is being held for. And Festus, who is the governor, he is asking King Agrippa to give him an idea as to what it is he should write as the accusation as to why Paul is requesting a hearing in front of Caesar.
00:04:48
Speaker
o So King Agrippa, maybe you can tell me what I should write, Festus said. Then King Agrippa turned to Paul. You may speak for yourself, he said.
00:05:01
Speaker
So Paul began his story. King Agrippa, I am happy to talk to you today because I know that you understand the Jews' laws and their problems.
00:05:15
Speaker
So please, listen carefully. The Jews know all about my life, said Paul. They can tell you that I lived as a Jew.
00:05:27
Speaker
I even belonged to the strictest sect of Judaism. I was a Pharisee.
00:05:39
Speaker
That means i went by the laws. And I hope in what God promised our people. And that is why I am being judged here today.
00:05:51
Speaker
The 12 family groups of Jews are waiting for God's promise, said Paul. And that is why they worship God night and day. That's why they are blaming me.
00:06:03
Speaker
But is it surprising that God makes the dead alive again? At one time, I thought that I should be against Jesus, and I even put his followers in jail.
00:06:18
Speaker
I spoke against them. I had them killed. I tried to make them say bad things about God. We call that blaspheme. I even went to cities in other countries to catch them.
00:06:33
Speaker
Now I was on one of these trips on my way to going to Damascus, said Paul, when about noon a bright light shone on me and it was brighter than the sun.
00:06:46
Speaker
I fell down and I heard a voice in my own Aramaic language. It said to me, Saul, Saul, why are you hurting me?
00:06:58
Speaker
It is hard on you when you go the wrong way. I asked, Who are you? and the voice said, I am Jesus, the one you are hurting.
00:07:11
Speaker
Now stand up. You are going to serve me. You will tell what you have seen. And I will save you from your own Jewish people.
00:07:22
Speaker
And I will save you from people who are not Jewish. I am sending you to show them how to leave sin. Show them how to turn away from Satan.
00:07:34
Speaker
Show them how to come to me. they can Then their sins can be forgiven and they can be with others who also believe. I obeyed, said Paul.
00:07:47
Speaker
So I taught people everywhere to turn to God and I told them how to show that they had changed by acting like it. And that is why some Jewish people pulled me out of the worship house.
00:08:00
Speaker
And that is why they tried to kill me. But God is helping me, even today. Moses said this would happen, said Paul. And the prophets said that this would happen.
00:08:13
Speaker
They said that Jesus would die. And they said that he would come back to life again. They said he would be a light to show God's kingdom. and he would show it to his own Jewish people and to people who are not Jewish.
00:08:31
Speaker
All of a sudden Festus shouted, you are out of your mind, Paul. You have learned so much that your mind is gone. I'm not out of my mind, said Paul.
00:08:44
Speaker
I am telling the truth. And it makes sense. King Agrippa knows what I'm saying about these things. I can talk to him. I'm sure he knows about what happened because these things were not hidden from people.
00:08:59
Speaker
They didn't happen in a corner. Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know you believe. You have talked for just a little while, said King Agrippa.
00:09:13
Speaker
Do you think that I will become a messianic in that short time? It may be short, said Paul. it may be long, but I pray to God, and I pray that you and everyone listening to today will become followers of the way like me.
00:09:33
Speaker
But I hope that you do not go to jail like me.
00:09:38
Speaker
The king and Bernice got up and they left the room. Festus and the other people left too. They began talking with each other.
00:09:49
Speaker
This man isn't doing anything he should be killed for. He isn't even doing anything he should be in jail for. King Agrippa spoke. I could have set him free, but he has asked for Caesar to judge him.
00:10:05
Speaker
And that is the end of our reading today of Acts chapter
Reflections on Faith and Guidance
00:10:10
Speaker
26. Wow.
00:10:15
Speaker
You're out of your mind, Paul. How many times have people as believers been accused of being out of their mind for what they believe? Many times.
00:10:26
Speaker
Paul says, I'm not out of my mind. makes sense. We see once again that God is still in control. And Paul is acknowledging that God has been helping him even to that very day.
00:10:43
Speaker
he Paul was being sent to talk to people who were already even familiar with the Jewish ways and the laws, and they knew what was going on.
00:10:55
Speaker
So Paul says that he was very happy to speak to King Agrippa because he was already familiar. And as Paul always does, he gave the reason for the hope that is in him.
00:11:08
Speaker
That is part of our daily application is that we see it is always necessary to be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us. And we don't need to worry about our tongue being tied, not being able to say the right thing. Because Jesus told us that when the time comes and we are asked about this, that the Holy Spirit will tell us what to say.
00:11:31
Speaker
And you know what, I can testify to that too. I can be a witness for that because there are many, many times I have no idea what it is I'm going to actually speak about, which doesn't sound maybe very professional when I'm talking about these events, but God puts his words into my mouth.
00:11:49
Speaker
I have an idea. I know what I'm going to talk about. I know i know the reason and the the application, but I don't have a script. I don't have anything written down. I have thoughts. But when I'm speaking, i i give it to the Lord and he speaks and I don't have to worry about it. Some days I'm just I'm just like, gosh, Lord, I don't i don't even know what to say today. So please make sure that whatever it is that is said is what you want to be heard.
00:12:20
Speaker
And so that is exactly what God does. He takes care of that because he is giving the reason for the hope that is in us. That doesn't mean that we should become unknowledgeable so that we don't have to worry about it. But he puts those thoughts and those words and that knowledge together with the Holy Spirit so that when we speak it, we understand what we are speaking, we know what is going on, and we come out way more eloquent than we would have if we didn't have the Holy Spirit speaking for us.
00:12:52
Speaker
So let's go back a little bit to the beginning too, so we can see our whole big picture. When Jesus spoke to Paul, Paul gives us another bit of information about this encounter that he had with Jesus.
00:13:08
Speaker
He says that when he asked Jesus, who are you? oh but Actually before that, he heard the voice saying, Saul, why are you hurting me? It's hard on you when you go the wrong way.
00:13:21
Speaker
Our big Bible version in my Bible, it says, it's difficult when you kick against the goads, which means to do things the hard way, doing things the wrong way.
00:13:31
Speaker
Exactly what Karen Henley is giving us today in in in her interpretation. i was going to read it out of my version here, but I don't have it highlighted for ready reference.
00:13:49
Speaker
It is hard on us when we go the wrong way. Isn't that interesting? Such a small line. But when we think about that,
00:14:00
Speaker
Things are harder on us when we don't go the right way. And you know what? It may seem like things are harder for us when we do go the right way. But the difference is, is that going the wrong way means that Jesus is not with us doing it and helping us along the way.
00:14:18
Speaker
However, when we go the right way and we serve God, Jesus tells us, that Jesus would be there with him. And we have seen the evidence of that.
00:14:31
Speaker
Jesus has been with Paul the entire time. Jesus told Paul that he would save him from people who were Jewish and from people who were not Jewish. Now we know at some time Paul's life comes to an end, and although it is not specifically recorded in the Bible, we will ah come to an end of his writings. And it is believed that eventually he will be beheaded by Nero after a fire, a catastropic catastrophic fire that occurred for which the believers of the way were blamed.
00:15:06
Speaker
And so a many people who were believers in the way, messianics, they were beheaded or crucified. Now, Paul being a Roman, Romans were.
00:15:18
Speaker
ah Oh, I just lost the word. um They were.
00:15:33
Speaker
exempt sorry it took a moment for my brain to pull that word out the romans were exempt from crucifixion so him being a roman citizen he was not crucified but tradition tells us that he was beheaded eventually however he was to finish the work that jesus gave him to do And many of the followers were suffered martyrdom.
00:16:00
Speaker
But that does not mean that they did not finish the work that they were meant to do. And so it can seem like it is harder when when we do go the way. But we know that, as Paul explained to us, that we are playing we are running a long race. We are not working or running toward a a crown
Spiritual Journey and Divine Plan
00:16:21
Speaker
that...
00:16:22
Speaker
that eventually, know, wilts they were running for and dies. our crown leaves and that eventually you know wilts and dies but our crown is the crown of life And so no matter what we are doing, we can remember that it is Jesus and God who are with us. And as we mentioned yesterday and previously, if God is for us, nothing can take us away from him.
00:16:54
Speaker
It may seem like things are difficult in life, but it is not our physical life that we are living for. It is our spiritual life. That is the long game. And so...
00:17:06
Speaker
we We read here that Paul obeyed what Jesus told him to do. And as a result of that, now Jesus, God, is helping him everywhere he goes, even that day.
00:17:21
Speaker
So if just the same for us, God will help us. He is always with us. We know even when Stephen was being stoned to death, at the time of his death, he could he said heaven was open to him and he could see Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
00:17:41
Speaker
And there have been other accounts throughout history where that same thing has happened, where although they may be suffering, it looks like, through a physical death, Jesus opens heaven to them.
00:17:54
Speaker
And so he was not perceivably experiencing the pain of that stoning. And even up until the end, Stephen cried out, forgive them of this sin, for they don't know what they are doing.
00:18:09
Speaker
So even then, God was with him up until the very end. And God will be with us too. We don't often have cause nowadays to be martyred. It does happen.
00:18:23
Speaker
But this should be an encouragement to us that it could be worse. No matter what it is that we are going through, God is with us even to today.
00:18:36
Speaker
And it's hard for us when we go the wrong way. So instead, let's go the right way and know that God is with us and he will help us yesterday, today, every day.
00:18:47
Speaker
God is with us. And we see also that at the very end, our closing statement is King Agrippa saying, I could have set him free, but he has asked for Caesar to judge him.
00:19:02
Speaker
Paul was not meant to be set free because King Agrippa is not in charge. It may seem like the rulers are in charge, but God is still King of Kings. God is still Lord of Lords.
00:19:15
Speaker
And he is the one who is actually in charge here. And Paul was told by Jesus that he would go to Rome and speak to the people there the same way that he had spoken to the people in Jerusalem.
00:19:31
Speaker
So he is meant to have audience with rulers. And our Bible version in the big Bible tells us that he is speaking to people great and small, and he is speaking to great people here.
00:19:43
Speaker
And those events are recorded. So I wanted to just show us that big picture, or the Holy Spirit wants us to see that big picture, to see that it is still God's will that is being carried out, even though things look bad.
00:19:58
Speaker
no matter how bad they may look, God is still working good into everything he does. And even while Paul was testifying, he prayed this prayer that I pray for all of us as well today.
00:20:13
Speaker
Paul prayed that whether it is a short while or a long while, That you, you who are listening to- today, no matter what day you are listening, in 2025 or any year after, whether you're watching the video or listening to it on a podcast somewhere, it is my prayer that you who are listening and everyone who is listening will become followers of the way that's just like me.
00:20:47
Speaker
Amen. And it's in Jesus' name that we ask that. If you are not already a follower of Jesus, that is my prayer, is that you will become a follower because Jesus is the way.
00:21:03
Speaker
He is the life. He is the truth.
00:21:09
Speaker
And with that, we're going to conclude our daily reading for today. I do hope that you feel that God has lit your light today. is If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to head up my site.
Engagement and Next Session
00:21:23
Speaker
I do have links in the description below to head over to my site.
00:21:28
Speaker
where, for instance, you could go to the spot where it says you can go to the calendar. And ah under that heading of read the Bible in one year, you can go to any one of the months. So like you're listening to the November 20th, you can click on underneath the read the Bible in one year. You can click on November readings for either audio or video.
00:21:49
Speaker
And you will find that there is a purple box and it is a way to directly message me so that you don't have to put it necessarily in a comment on the audio version wherever you may be listening.
00:22:01
Speaker
Not all audio platforms have places where you can comment and you may feel more comfortable sending me a private message. I do have the videos on YouTube set for made for kids in order to make it available for families and doing that causes the comment section to be turned off.
00:22:23
Speaker
It is part of YouTube's commitment to creating Children's privacy is called the Children's Privacy Protection Act, and it actually has nothing to do with the content and it being appropriate for children or inappropriate for children. It only has to do with data collection.
00:22:42
Speaker
And as a result of that, no commenting can be done on any video on YouTube marked as made for kids. So I do want to make that clear. I know some of you, many of you are newer this year. So while I mentioned this early on in the year that that was the case, you may be wondering why the comment section is turned off on the video, but that you can comment on the audio portion of YouTube and you can comment on Spotify. And I'm not sure I've never seen comments on Apple Music or Amazon Music. I do know on Podbean you can comment.
00:23:18
Speaker
And I do have a couple of followers on Podbean. So ah thank you for joining me there or wherever it is that you are following along. And so in that purple square that you find on my site, on any one of the page listings, it has a section where you can ask me a question or leave a comment. And if you want to reach out about being a follower of the way of being a believer,
00:23:43
Speaker
then that is how you can do so. And I want to be a source of support for those of you who may just be coming followers of Jesus.
00:23:54
Speaker
And it's especially important to me to be able to grow and help nurture any of that, any of you who may be coming new into the faith. So thank you so much for joining me today. Whether you have followed along on your podcast or whether you're watching on video, I'm just so glad that you are here today. And i hope that you are hungry for more of God's word tomorrow and will join me again tomorrow when we complete the book of Acts.
00:24:21
Speaker
Have a fantastic and blessed rest of your day. And I will see you again next time. Or you will see me. I don't actually see any of you. but and And you will see me again next time. It just sounds funny to say that, don't you think? I should say that at the end. And until you see me again next time, have a great day.