Philippians 1:9 “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight”
Jesus was and is our model of how to love. He loved because that is who He was and is. So must we love the same way. Not grudgingly, but rushing to do what is loving not because we ought to, but because we must, and we must because that is who we are. We must yield to the Holy Spirit so that He may change each of us into the “new creation” that we are called to be (2 Corinthians 5:17). God is preparing us for Heaven. He is helping us to shed the creation that this world bore to the creation that God has supernaturally born us to be. As the love of God is poured into us and it changes us to be the same as He from whom it came, we are transformed from beings who think about what are the attributes of love and so try to do them, into actually letting what we have been transformed into, flow through us. The Lord changes us to be like Him in that we don’t love because we must, but because love is an increasing part of the fabric of who we are. We love because love is who we are. Selfishness is being moved out and love has made our spirit its home. Jesus loves because it is who He is. We love because we are becoming like Christ.
We will ever continue to be transformed by love. On this earth, we will not get to the point where love is perfected in us, so we keep praying and obeying. Still, we can get much closer to living in love than from where we began. We can love first because that is who we are. With love comes knowledge and depth of insight on how to live as God lives. With love is pure wisdom of God. Even wisdom comes from love. We know we have it by how we act. Those who truly love grow from trying to love to just loving because that is who Christ has changed them to be. Let’s strive for love to be inherent within us. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 Family let’s be like God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit as He transforms us to be like Him. Let’s love from a changed and pure heart. And let us never stop continuing to thank and praise God (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). God is good all the time and He loves us. That is our goal. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withActs 10:34-35 – “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”
Romans 10:12 – For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Whom does God love? Who are His favorites? Family and Friends, God has equally extended grace to all. It matters not what nation we are from. God is not concerned with our ancestry. He is not concerned with our financial status. Before anyone comes to the Lord, we all suffer the same detestable malady, we are all sinners . It is not cliché, but truth, that God hates the sin but loves the sinner. The pre-penitent person who has trouble gossiping is not loved more than the thief, the murderer, or the sexually defiled. The Word of God describes the spiritual condition of all before coming to the Lord in this way “As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12) God does not judge as we judge (1 Samuel 16:7).
James 2:1-9 explains that we should not show favoritism one over the other as God loves us all equally. As far is grace is concerned, none are offered it more than any other. Jesus died for all (2 Corinthians 5:15). Yet, it seems that no church is not weak in this area. Are there no poor who should serve as elders and deacons? Are there no poor that should serve as head elder or deacon? Does wealth in this world determine wealth in the Spirit? Family, Peter was taught a lesson that all are equal in the eyes of God. Sure, we are all called and gifted to serve in different ways (except for sharing the Gospel, which all are called to (Matthew 28:18-20), so not all are called to be elders and deacons. Let us look at our elders and deacons, are the poor less represented. How does it line up with 1 Corinthians 1:26-28? Now it is also true that as the rich are not favored over the poor, the poor are not favored over the monetarily wealthy. I thank God that where I go to church they sit next to each other in the pews and wealth is not considered, at least not that I know of. However, looking at leadership, what do we see there? How many poor are in our church leaderships? Might saints come from all demographics, but most of the truly humble are not rich. Though, again, many well off saints could teach anyone how to be humble. Let’s not give priority to rich over poor, or poor over rich. We are all loved and gifted by God. Let us not favor the rich or the poor. God does not judge in such a way. He judges the heart (Jeremiah 17:10, 1 Chronicles 28:9, 1 Samuel 16:7).
Acts 10:34 states that God does not show favoritism and V35 states that He accepts people of all nations (ethnicities) that fear Him and do what is right.
God does not love man more than woman or woman more than man. God’s love and grace are equally offered to both. Both equally are offered all the blessings of God. Again, ministries may differ, but neither is loved more than the other. God is not partial.
Family, the Word of God is clear. He has equally offered grace to all. Therefore He equally calls and loves all. All is all! That is wonderful to those who live with love in their heart, and hard to take for those who do not have the love of God in their heart. Let us love all equally. Let us not consider ourselves too highly, lest God need to humble us (Proverbs 16:18, James 4:6-7). God loves us all. Let us love all. Let us share the love and grace with all with no regard for ethnicities or monetary position. If we do, then we love God and serve Him as He has called us to do. Praise our good and loving God who loves us all! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withLuke 1:15b – “he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.”
Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Ezekiel 18:30-32 “Therefore, you Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!”
Most Christians have heard the term “God has no grandchildren, only children.” We understand that to mean that every person must come individually to Christ to receive from Him eternal salvation. Most people know that John 3:16 tells us that God made a way through Jesus for mankind to be eternally united with Him. However lesser known is V18 that follows it “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” This verse clearly says that “whoever” believes in Jesus is not condemned but whoever does not believe is condemned. What this verse actually is saying is that without Jesus as one’s Savior and Lord, everyone is condemned and going to hell (Romans 3:23). It is only as the blood, the sacrifice of Jesus is applied to one’s life that one is plucked from the conveyor belt that leads to hell and set on the road that leads the opposite direction to heaven. As Romans 10:9-10 reveals, we must believe and assert with the deepest solemnity and passion that Jesus is Lord of all and that He has risen from death. We believe in this with faith to attain heaven, that is, eternal life with God. To be saved from the conveyor belt to hell, we must cry out to Jesus, and to Him only, for only He is the Savior, only His name will save (Acts 4:12). Family and Friends, this is what God Himself has proclaimed. This is not my thoughts and words. What use would thoughts that were only mine be? No, it is God, who in mercy and love has shown the way to Himself and who has through His Word and confirmed by His Spirit this Truth. God has also asserted that it is the responsibility of all individuals to make their own choice. All must choose either God, through Jesus, or all must choose to reject God by not accepting the work and person of Jesus, His Son. There is no middle ground. One cannot “sit-on-the-fence.” One cannot “lean-toward-God.” The fence is on the devil’s property line. Jesus said that all are either one hundred percent for Him, or one hundred percent against Him (Matthew 12:30). The above verses in Ezekiel 18:30-32 support that all must make their own choice and that is a grave, and eternal choice.
So we see that indeed God has only children and no grandchildren. The faith of Dad or Grandma saves no-one. One’s relationship with God is individual.
Though some believe in infant baptism, most protestant denominations believe that baptism is for the adult who understands that baptism is a believer’s statement to the world that the believer proclaims himself/herself as a servant to Jesus. Since an infant is not capable of comprehending what that means, the protestant will state that baptism should wait till the infant has grown to a level of understanding, whether as a child or as an adult. Considering the brevity required in this writing, please allow that simple statement to suffice for the purposes of this writing. Baptism is a choice to be obedient to what the Lord has called His followers to do (Matthew 28:19-20). Also, forgiveness of God through Jesus is a gift and therefore it is upon man to make the choice to either accept the gift or reject the gift. It is the decision of all, individuals that decides their eternity.
We also know that the Holy Spirit only lives within the believer (John 14:16-17). It is a sign from God, a guarantee that the believer belongs to God (Ephesians 1:13, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 2:18). 2 Corinthians 1:22 states that the Holy Spirit is a down payment, a beginning, of the fulfillment to all the promises that God has given to his children.
Being a Christian is an individual and conscious choice and only a believer has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Let us now consider Luke 1:15b. Since it is only purposefully that one becomes a Christian, and only a Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, how it that John the Baptist had the Holy Spirit within since he was in the womb. He certainly did not have the reasoning ability in the womb to make that decision, yet in the womb he was set aside by God and given the Holy Spirit. Family, it is good for us to remember that God is God and no other is. We cannot understand how everything is and therefore cannot explain everything. Some things we know “are,” but do not know “how.” Those things, since we know the goodness and love of our God, since we know His innate qualities by the witness of His Word and His Spirit, we accept by faith. God is under no compulsion to explain all His ways, but we are commanded to live by faith.
Not as an indisputable fact, but offered as a thought, it would seem the answer can be found from Romans 8:29 and Romans 11:2. Who God foreknew, He predestined. Since God knows a man’s heart before his birth we know that before we are born God is already working on our behalf to prepare us for His kingdom. He is preparing us to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and He is preparing us for ministry. It would seem that the answer to the Holy Spirit filling John while He was yet in his mother’s womb is that God was preparing John for his ministry. Really that is not so complicated. In fact, it is very wonderful. God knew us before the existence of the universe (Ephesians 1:4). He loved us before all of creation was created. He had a plan for our lives before we were conceived. A plan to bless us and prosper us (Jeremiah 29:11). He leads us that we would seek Him with all our heart and when we do, we would find Him (Jeremiah 29:12-13). Oh the riches of the wisdom of God! How great He is! He knows all and He is all-powerful. We are convinced that He by whom we exist (Colossians 1:16-17) is able to keep us in all ways (2 Timothy 1:12). Jesus has prepared us to be with Him forever, He has prepared a place for in His Father’s house, His eyes are on us and He loves us. Family, God has got a plan and He knows how to bring it about. We are safe. We are free and God continues to guide and enable us. God will bring us home! Yes, He is good and He loves us. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withActs 1:15-17 – “In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters ,the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” 18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Let’s look at Vs 15-17 “In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters ,the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” As we have seen the group of about one hundred twenty people had stayed together eagerly anticipating the power from the Holy Spirit that was going to empower them for ministry. They were being obedient and excitedly waiting. As they were waiting Peter stood up to speak to the group. He referred to them as family in Christ, as “adelphos.” The Spirit of God had united them.
Peter reminded them of a couple verses from Psalms of David that Peter attributed to Judas the betrayer, Psalm 41:9 “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” and Psalm 109:8b “…may another take his place of leadership.”
Peter says that Judas had been one of them, “numbered” as one of the twelve and had shared in the ministry of being an apostle. An apostle is one who is “sent with orders.” In Matthew 10:1-4, V1 states that Jesus called his “twelve disciples” to Him. In V4 Judas is included as one of Jesus’s apostles. Judas was definitely one of the twelve apostles as Peter states here in V17. Judas was not present when the disciples received the Holy Spirit from Jesus. He had already been possessed by the devil and driven to betray Jesus (Luke 22:3-6). The Apostle John wrote in John 6:70 that Jesus said that He chose Judas to be one of his twelve disciples (Jesus calls them “the Twelve”). Jesus chose Judas even though He recognized what Jesus would do. Family, Judas had every opportunity to do right. He was a disciple and one elected to be one sent to the world to the spread the Gospel. Judas was offered a very rich blessing and instead chose an evil path.
“21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.” Peter reminded them that the betrayer would be replaced. He decided that they would need to do that. None of the verses that state the betrayer would be replaced state that man would replace him, but in fact David was asking God to act. Although opinions differ, many believe that Peter and the rest jumped the gun by calling for lots to select between two men that the disciples had decided upon to be the replacement for Judas. They decided that they needed to help the process along and Matthias was selected. Does that mean that God chose Matthias? They threw lots, one of the two were going to be selected. They did not leave a space for another unknown person to be selected. Many people will note that Matthias was not noted again in the Word. However, Jesus Himself did appoint another Apostle (Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:1, Acts 9:1-6). Now if Peter was correct in pushing the appointment who was Matthias, now that Jesus Himself had added Paul as an Apostle that would mean that there were now thirteen Apostles. However from Revelation 21:14 we know that in the end, only twelve are acknowledged. That would mean that either one Apostle lost his place (not stated in the Word), or that either Matthias or Paul were not true Apostles. The Word of God is clear that Paul was a true Apostle who was called and appointed by Jesus and “sent” out by Jesus to preach the Gospel. It seems clear that when Matthias was named an Apostle that He was it was not the will of God.
Some may say “But the lots were cast and it fell to Matthias. Let’s consider that man (Peter) decided that he and his mates would take it upon themselves to select who was qualified and present them to God. They chose Barsabbas and Matthias. Then they put these two before God and asked Him to choose between these two. Family, haven’t we acted likewise. We think that the proper way to go, the proper job offer to accept, the right person to pursue for marriage, is one or another and we ask God to choose between what we think is best and all the while neither of the options we ask God to choose between are what the Lord knows if best. So then, perhaps, neither of the options we gave to God worked out. We are disappointed. Was it not best to perhaps phrase our prayer more like “Lord I am thinking that you are leading me in one of these two ways. If one of these is your choice for me, then please let me know which one to choose. However if neither of these are your choice for me, then please show me what is your choice. Not my will, but yours.”
It is okay to ask God for specific answers, but who are we to limit God to two, or to a thousand choices. We ought to always remember that we are speaking to the only omniscient One, God Himself. We may think we have only one of two ways, but what we think may be wrong. It may be something different from the two. Therefore, we must not limit God by offering to Him the choices we think are best, but rather patiently and persistently press in for what He says is best. One way leads us to an all but forgotten Matthias and the other leads us to a Paul, who God used to write most of the New Testament.
Peter was right, God was going to replace Judas. He just jumped-the-gun instead of waiting on God. May we not make the same error, though I know I already have done so too many times. Family, let us decide to choose to not limit God with our thoughts, but to always persevere for the will of God for our lives. God’s choice is clearly and utterly superior. God intends to bless us. He is good and He loves us. Let us find the peace and security of His will. Let us wait for it. May we not “jump-the-gun.” Let us walk in His superior will for His life. Praise our God who loves and cares for us! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withActs 1:15-17 – “In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters ,the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.” 18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’ 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.” 23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Let’s first look at Vs 18-20 “With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’” Since the Word of God is inerrant, surely this happened as both Matthew (Matthew 27:1-10) and these verses in Acts testify to. Some think that these two versions contradict each other, but it is not so. Dr. Charles R. Swindoll in his commentary on Acts explains it this way “In his (Judas) fit of remorse, Judas cast the thirty pieces of silver on the temple floor and then hanged himself in a remote field. No one found him until his body had decayed, become bloated, fallen from the noose, landed face down, and burst open, and his organs had spilled onto the ground. The Greek word translated “headlong” is prenes [4248] which doesn’t have the meaning “headfirst” in other Greek literature but simply “level,” “prostrate,” or face down.”
“Ancient people considered this gruesome scene the most shameful way to die and an unthinkable way for a body to decay. In the Jewish mind, a hanged man was “accursed of God,” and if the corpse was not buried the same day, the land was considered defiled (Deuteronomy 21:23). Moreover, Jews avoided cadavers and blood at all costs. This was cursed ground.”
“The priests didn’t want the money and no one wanted the land, so the landowner was compensated for this loss and the field reviled as “the blood field.”
Some think that Judas, being in an isolated place, was not found right away and the rope broke and he fell down to the land below the cliff and his rotting body burst open when he landed, face first.
We see that the two accounts are not contradictory, but rather complementary, both giving truthful accounts while including different details.
Family, whatever sin we slip into, we need only repent of it, call out to Jesus for forgiveness, and we will be forgiven. All sin. For the unbeliever, all sin is shame and the shed blood of Jesus is strong enough to wash sin it all away. Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” The Gospel is that Jesus paid the full price for all sins of mankind. That men hear the Gospel, confess the truth of being a sinner and therefore in need of a Savior. They confess that Jesus is the Savior. The ask Jesus to be their own Savior and also ask Jesus to always be the Lord of their life. That is how we are saved. Once one becomes a Believer 1 John 1:9, clearly states that when a Believer sins we need confess our sins to God He will purify us. For the Believer, he has already accepted the free gift that all sins have already been paid for by Jesus, past, present and future. In 1 John 2:1-2 the Believer is admonished to not sin. Yet, in the same verse, our weakness is recognized and we are told that Jesus is our Advocate and His blood will continue to wash us clean of all sin. What do we learn from this, we learn that when we fail, when we stumble, when we have been playing in the filth of the world, forgiveness is always available to us, we just need to come to Jesus and receive it. Family, we should never run from God after we have sinned, He knows we have, and like God sought out Adam and Eve, God continues to pursue us and call us to stay close to Him. He will forgive us each and every time we ask. And the wonderful thing about the sin we can’t stop doing is that He will help us with that also (1 John 1:9b). Family, when our conscience is clear, run to Jesus. When our consciences are not clear, do not give up, run to Jesus. Never run away from God, but always to Him. He has already proved His great love for us. Run to Jesus, it is the right choice all the time and eternity will bear it out. Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withJeremiah 33:1-3 – While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time: 2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name: 3 ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ NIV
Jeremiah 33:1-3 – While Jeremiah was still locked up in jail, a second Message from God was given to him: 2-3 “This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’ The Message
When the prophet Jeremiah was in prison, the Lord came and spoke to Him. When we are in prisons, when we are in tough times, we seek the Lord. We call out for His help. The Lord desires for us to stop what we are doing, He desires for us to stop worrying, He wants us to just stop and turn to Him. He always wants us to first and always seek Him. As we are getting out of bed, before our feet hit the floor, we should begin to fellowship with God. In spite of popular opinion, the first thing we need in the morning is not coffee, but to fellowship with God. Fellowshipping with God means to put our attention on Him, to talk to Him, to truly expect Him to communicate to us. We turn our faces first to God (Psalm 59:16). God moves when we seek Him.
Acts 16:22-30 tells us of a time when Paul and Silas were wrongly sentenced to be beaten with rods. They were severely flogged and then put into an inner cell in the prison. At midnight, after a day that most of us would call a truly horrendous day, what were they doing? They were praying and singing hymns to God. Their faith in God was not altered. It grew. They sang out their praise and lifted them up to God. God heard and He sent a big earthquake. Paul and Silas could have fled (the prison doors had flown open), but instead they stayed in the circumstances that God had them in. They wanted to be where God wanted them to be, even if that meant they were to be in prison. Because of their faith, because they continued to pray and praise God, their prison guard came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior and so did His family. Being in a hard spot, of any kind, does not mean that God is angry with us or we are out of His will. They were right where God wanted them and their faith was strong. God used them to bring people into the kingdom of God. You know that even though their bodies hurt, their spirits and souls soared. God hears our prayers. God moves when we seek Him.
God desires for us to have our attention on Him and our will yielded to Him. As we seek Him He will reveal to us great wonders that are beyond our ability to know unless He reveals them to us. The least of the wisdom of God is infinitely beyond the greatest wisdom of man (1 Corinthians 1:25). To those who are His own, when we ask for His wisdom He will give it to us (James 1:5). At all times, in every place, let us be quiet before the Lord and hear what He would say to us. Let’s sit before His throne and have Him bless us with His Wisdom. He has already given us His Word and He has given us His Spirit. In His Word is more knowledge than we can, in this lifetime, fully know. His Word reveals His will for us and more importantly, His Word leads us to Him and reveals Him to us. Family, do we truly want to know eternal mysteries. God wants to expand our minds. He wants to blow open the prison cells of our natural abilities and pour into us wisdom and knowledge that the natural mind does not know and cannot conceive. God wants us to learn eternal knowledge. Like children laying under a sky filled with majestic and twinkling stars, and wondering and staring in awe, so let us be in awe and let God tell us the story of creation, and of undying love, and of the One who provides for and protects all who love Him. Let God amaze us! Praise God! Lord God, let it be so, amaze us as only You can. You, oh God, are truly amazing. Lord You move when we seek You. Praise you God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob with
Romans 8:31-38 – “31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So God is for me. What, wait a minute! What does that mean? Well, since He is the only All-Powerful being in existence, and always will be the only one, then I am absolutely protected because God is on my side. Since He did not spare His own Son but sent Him to die for me then I am absolutely and eternally saved because God is on my side. Since God Himself washed away all sin from me, then He will not validate any accusations against me. So I am absolutely sinless because God is on my side. Since Jesus died for my sins and calls me His own then I am absolutely His child because God is on my side. Because there is nothing physical or spiritual that can separate me from the love of God then I am absolutely loved because God is on my side. God is for me, Jesus has claimed me as His own, and nothing can come between God and me. I am absolutely God’s child because God is on my side.
God is on our side and nothing comes between us. Shouldn’t we feel the same way toward God? With the protection of God, we should always be on God’s side, no matter what or who opposes our relationship with Him. We stand with God who choose us to be on His team. We stand with God, always and forever, we stand with God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob withActs 1:12-14 – “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
“Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” These now born again and back-in-line believers were all together as the Lord had wanted. The only one not there was the betrayer Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot, was not a victim. He made a choice. Looking at Matthew 26:21-25 we see that Jesus has revealed that He knew that one of his twelve apostles would betray Him. Judas asked Jesus if he was the one who would betray him and Jesus responded that it was as Judas had said (and what Judas knew he would do). This scene is reminiscent of Jesus speaking to a man at the dawn of mankind spreading out upon the earth. In Genesis 4 the Lord was asking Cain why He was angry. He told Cain that if would repent and do the right thing He would be accepted (God did not begin extending grace to us in the New Testament, since grace is from His love, being graceful has always been intrinsic to who He is). Cain did not repent and instead killed his brother Abel (Able being the first man to actually physically die, though all mankind (after Adam and Eve) begin to die at conception). So Cain was warned and could have avoided being the first murderer, and Judas was not forced into a destiny of being the one who betrayed Jesus. Judas could have repented of his thoughts of betrayal and been forgiven. However he did not repent. Now it was prophesied that one of Jesus’s own would betray Him (Psalm 41:9), but that was not forced destiny, but foreknowledge. Foreknowledge does dictate the future, but is the awareness and understanding of it. Because God is omniscient He knew with one hundred percent accuracy what would happen, but God did not make Judas betray Jesus, He just knew He would. Family, if God made would have made Judas betray Jesus, than God would have sinned (Matthew 18:6-7, Luke 17:2, Matthew 13:41). But will not sin and cannot sin (1 John 3:9-10), because He has no sin and no nature for sin. For God to sin would be do something contrary to His perfect nature. And God indeed is perfect so He does not betray Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). Humans are also not able to betray themselves. They can betray their dreams or desires, but cannot betray who they ultimately are. All of us are people with fallen natures. Because of our fallen nature we cannot avoid, by our own power, sinning, though we may greatly desire to. So we can say that we will not commit a sin that plagues us, and we make get control over some, but we will never, of our own power, get control over all sin. To not sin is to betray our fallen nature. That is why we must kill the fallen nature and submit to Spirit who lives within (Romans 8:12-13). Since the fall of man, sin is as much a part of us as the beating of our hearts. It is only through the power of God that we have any victory over our sin nature. God is perfect in all ways, certainly including His purity. Unlike us, God cannot betray Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). God cannot be tempted by sin and neither does He tempt us to sin (James 1:13). Therefore, God did not tempt, or make Judas to sin, though He knew Judas would sin. God the Father knew that Judas would betray Jesus and Jesus knew that also. Judas, like every other person that ends up in hell, made his choice against God and is even now paying the price for his choice. He was no victim, he was heretic.
All the remaining apostles were waiting for the power on high, from the Holy Spirit, that Jesus had told them to wait for. Not only the eleven remaining Apostles, but also the women who loved Jesus, including His mother were there waiting. Family, in a time and a land when women were considered possessions, Jesus considered them His disciples and sisters as much as He considered any man His disciple and brothers. Talk about women’s lib, Jesus elevated them to equally eternal and blessed members of His family. To Jesus, women were cherished and equal members of His family. Praise God!
The brothers of Jesus was there. Formerly they were unbelievers. After seeing Him alive, resurrected from the dead, they also believed. James and Jude wrote the book of James and Jude, respectively. Once received, they never wavered in their faith.
All one hundred twenty disciples of Jesus that were with the Apostles were together, in union, praying and waiting for the exciting promise Jesus had given to them, the empowering by the Holy Spirit! God had given that promise to all of them and He still offers it to all of us. We need only be true disciples of Jesus who believe His Word and along with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, He will empower us to do His will in this world as He individually calls us all to do. Praise God! Women and men, all equally loved and called, serving God to continue His ministry to the world. Praise God! Don’t you love it! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
Acts 1:12-14 – “Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
“Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.” At the time Jesus ascended to Heaven from the Mount of Olives (Luke 24:50) He told the Apostles to return to Jerusalem. They did just that. They obeyed the Lord.
A Sabbath day’s walk is the allowable distance that a Jew was allowed to walk on a Sabbath day. That distance varies a little, usually from about three quarters of a mile to about one and three quarters of a mile. We must remember that the goal of the Sabbath was to spend time relaxing in the blessings of God and considering who He is and what He wants from His people. They were to rest, not work. Though Christians do not have a set “Sabbath” day to worship on, remember that the principle is still there. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17-18) and keeping the Sabbath was one of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8) The Sabbath day is a day of rest, a day to consider God and His Word to us. We are to remember that He Himself rested and so are we told to do.
We notice the difference between the defeated disciples who fled and denied Jesus as He was being unfairly tried, tortured and murdered and who they were after Jesus was resurrected. They had scattered as they had ran to hide, just as was prophesied (Zechariah 13:7). Now, after seeing the resurrected Jesus, they have gained peace and confidence and were not now focusing on the fears that had previously overtaken them (Luke 24:37-39). They were again confident in the Lord and obedient to His instruction to go to Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit to ascend upon them (Luke 24:49). Jesus told them that they would be “endued” or “clothed” by power on high, and that is by the Holy Spirit. He does not tell them that the Holy Spirit will enter them and then they will receive the power. As we have seen that the Holy Spirit had previously entered them as told in John 20:22. No the word translated here as endued or clothed means that they will be covered with, that they will wear the empowering as clothes of power from on high. The Holy Spirit will lay a mantle of power on them. He will lay on them the power to accomplish the mission of Jesus to reach the world. They are gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used as He enables and directs for the purpose of glorifying Jesus. Though the disciples, after the death of Jesus, had been dejected, weak and confused, after the resurrection they were convinced beyond doubt that Jesus is the Messiah and then they were again obedient to Him (those who love God obey Him – John 15:14). They did as Jesus said, they waited for what Jesus had promised. They waited to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The room that they were staying and praying at is thought by some to be the same room that they had communion with Jesus before His unjust trial, torture and death.
The disciples, who no longer doubted, were waiting on God and as we shall see they received the power of God that was given to them to do the will of God. How about us? Do we start every day by seeking strength and direction from God for the day before us (Isaiah 40:31)? Family, we must start every day with the Lord. It is only as we wait on the Lord, in full expectation of receiving, are we empowered to do all the works that He has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Let us not cheat ourselves of the rich reward of satisfaction that comes from witnessing the power of God moving through us throughout the day, every day. What a wonder to watch God work! If we believe in God, let us call to God and yield to Him every day. Family, really, we truly don’t know what is best. Truly, Father knows best! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.
by Bob with
Psalm 62:6 “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”
How wonderful to praise God in the morning with resolute affirmation of dedication and love to Him! So very blessed! Oh praise God!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.