Acts 10:9-23 – About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.” We see the Lord’s plan coming together. The crescendo is building. Peter is going about his normal day. He was going to the roof to pray. Let’s note that Peter was in the routine of praying three times a day, as was a routine of devout Jews. Secondly, that Peter was unsuspecting that what God had set in motion was about to come to the gate of the house that he was staying in. These men sent from the Centurion have traveled thirty miles in one day. They were fixed on accomplishing their mission and may have walked through the night. They were displaying instant and exact obedience to their master
“He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.” It was about noon and Peter, as he was praying and a meal was being prepared for him was hungry. Still, he did not allow his hunger to distract him, he prayed and “fell into” a trance. This word trance has a blend of meanings. It is a radical changed state of mind. Peter did not just become sleepy. He was focusing on God, as He did his state of mind was changed. This is not subtle but comes with it a throwing out of the usual state of mind into an alien state of mind. We are not talking about a mind void of thought, but a mind void of all thought other than a focus on God. It is an ability that is learned and improved upon by repetition. It is a state of clearing one’s mind to be ready to receive from God. The Holy Spirit came upon Peter and prepared him to receive a message from God.
“He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.” Peter knew the origin of what was approaching him. It is not said that he thought the sheet was from Heaven. No Peter saw Heaven open. He saw Heaven open and something begin to descend down to him. Wow!
The KJV states that a “certain vessel: was descending from Heaven toward him. The word “vessel” could be understood as a kitchen utensil, or gear from a ship. Also the word “sheet” could also be translated as a sail. Both of these together are interesting as Peter saw something that could be part of a ship that appeared to be a sail descending upon him. How appropriate for this fisherman who had made his living on ships.
“It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” To a Jew this would have been reprehensible to eat these things as Hebrew scripture would have advised him not too (Leviticus 11). To Peter he had been taught and had obeyed not to eat unclean things and this thought was not only repulsive, but to him seemed unholy.
Peter said “Surely not, Lord!” Those sent by the centurion would not have considered disobeying him. They had immediately obeyed and pressed on until the arrival of their destination. They would not have dreamed of saying no to their lord. Yet Peter said no to whom he acknowledged as Lord. Peter said no to the Creator of mankind. He said no the one that he called Savior and Lord. In those days, saying no to ones lord was not an option. If one truly acknowledges one as lord, especially Lord, then speaking the word “no” to him (Him) should never happen. How is it that we think that saying no to Jesus is ever the right thing to do? It is ironic that these three men who were instantly and absolutely obedient to their lord were coming to find out truth about God from a man who was not always instantly and absolutely obedient to His Lord. This is not to disparage Peter, who was a blessed Apostle of Jesus. Ah but the grace of God, we too often abuse it, we definitely depend on it, and God is always faithful to give it to us. Wherever sin can be found in a saint, greater, more powerful, and overcoming is the grace of God! Like a toddler who was just told not to do something and then does it, the child has not lost the love, mercy and grace of its parents. No, when the child is disobedient, the love of the parent is greater than the disobedience of the child. The child will learn, change and grow through the patient diligence and correction of the parent, but the child will not become unloved. The servants of a centurion could lose their life by disobeying their master. They were under the law. Family, we are not under the law, but are covered by the grace that God gives to us. We are covered by His love and that love never fails. Even though the love of some parents fail, God’s love and grace never, not ever, will. Praise God! Oh the depth and mysteries of God’s love 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 with2 Timothy 1:12 – That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Sometimes we are inside the house and preoccupied and don’t see the storm that is coming. Even if from inside the house we hear the wind blowing, or perhaps, if it is dark, and we may have been vaguely aware of the flash of light that has lit up the sky but in our house is barely noticeable. The storm has not arrived, but is coming. We may have music playing loudly, or the television loudly blaring in our well insulated houses so we don’t hear the thunder, at least not in any way that grabs our attention. Then, what seems to be suddenly but really was not, the storm is upon us. The wind is strong and blowing everything outside around and blowing some things away that will never be found again. Lightning strikes are close and the thunder shakes the house. The storm seems be stopped and mere feet above our house. A real threat has arrived. The water outside is rising and the car has been turned on its side. Danger surrounds. What do we do? What then?
When the storms of life seem most threatening what, or whom will save us? Family, we must be prepared for the storms. Of course for those who have not, it is always a good time to make a decision to love and serve Jesus. However for those not yet in a storm, the best time to know God personally is before the storm comes. To know the sure goodness of God and infinite depth of His love is a protector against any storm at any time. It is important not to merely acknowledge the goodness and love of God, but to have the essence of who God is not only something one has considered and thought to be true, but to be something that we have put our trust of everything in His hands. Not just saying it but holding back some, but to in increasing measure, as we are able, to give all that we think we know, and all that we love, wholly over to God. Then we the storms of any kind hover over our house we will not fear. We will be sure that God will either save us from the storm, be with us through the storm, or the storm may destroy our bodies to release us to be in God’s presence forever. All of these are acceptable and desirable to us because we are confident we are in the will of an all-knowing God. Because, beyond all other things, we know (know, not think) that God is good all the time and that He loves us, we know that though flesh and belongings may be stricken, our relationship with God and our future with Him are never effected. Nothing separates us from the love of God and so nothing separates from the pristine goodness of God. (Romans 8:38)
Family, storms come and go, people come and go, but God remains and is with us, and loving us, through all. Let us not doubt and sink (Matthew 14:22-33), but hold strong to our sure knowledge of the goodness and love of God and thereby keep the peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Let us truly know in whom we have believed. God is good and He loves us…all the time. We need to know that. Praise God!
Let The Wind Blow by the Imperials
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 10:1-8 – At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.” The word regiment used here is probably better translated as “cohort.” A cohort consisted of about six hundred men. The cohorts were subdivided in groups of one hundred men and led by a leader called a centurion. They were called the Italian Regiment because they were all, or mostly all, Romans and not foreign conscripts.
“He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” It is amazing that this Roman officer was a man who was faithfully and ardently fearing and seeking God. He was a Roman and the Roman belief in many gods, and their deification of their Caesars, is well known. Yet here is a man who had no interest in the false beliefs of Rome, but who cried out to God to know who the one true God was. This truly is amazing that he could stick his head out of the stench of the morass of false beliefs. But he did. In fact the original language used indicated that he was crying out to God because of the lack of something in his life. That lack was the knowledge of God, who he was sure existed. Cornelius not only desperately sought God, but he also taught his family to do so.
Another thing to note is that Cornelius was a good man who was generous with the needy. This is noteworthy because as is shown in these scriptures, he was not on his way to Heaven. Being a good person who sought after God was not good enough. If so, God could have left Cornelius seeking Him and doing good deeds and then brought him to Heaven. But God did not. The truth is, this man who was a good deed doer and ardent prayer was on his way to hell. We know that good deeds don’t get us to Heaven, we only get there through Jesus. Displaying God’s heart to save all who will come, Jesus is about to be taught to Cornelius.
“One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”” God will do whatever it takes to save souls. Isn’t the fact that He sent His Son Jesus to be born a man, to suffer die and rise from death evidence enough that God will do whatever it takes to save a man? Even today we hear of Jesus appearing in visions to people to save whole tribes. Yet too many people say that God doesn’t work that way. They need to open their eyes and see that the love of God will do whatever it needs to save souls, or even, one soul. Perhaps the doubter needs to understand that doctrine that remains in the head, but not the heart, is of little value. Jesus is in the business of loving and saving souls.
“Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When Cornelius called the angel lord, it was likely that he was not addressing him as Lord, like Lord God, which the angel would have corrected. Only God is Lord. He was more likely speaking respectfully to this emissary with great power, like we might address someone as Sir.
The angel told Cornelius that God had heard his prayers and was now answering them. He gave him orders to send men to bring Peter to him.
Peter was staying with Simon the tanner. That is significant because Jews typically eschewed tanners because they handled things that were dead. Yet Peter was staying with this tanner. Perhaps the Lord, having Peter minister to the Samaritans, was using him with the Samaritans for their sake, but also in preparation to open up the eyes of Peter that Jesus planned to bring the Gospel to the whole world and not just the Jewish world. The Lord was about to show Cornelius to narrow his search for God and also was about to teach Simon to broaden his search for recipients of the Gospel.
“When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.” As soon as the angel was gone Cornelius did as he was instructed. He sent two servants and a trusted soldier to Peter. Cornelius was about to receive all he had wanted. He was about to receive what he knew was lacking in his life. He could hardly wait to finally get the answer to his prayers.
Cornelius was no different than every person who was ever born. We were all born with a lack. The lack was Jesus in our lives. Family, thank Jesus for all He has done for us. He filled the void, He has provided the lack so that we have received what we most needed, and that is, to become God’s family. Praise God! We belong to God! Now let’s share the good news and keep loving and praising 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 9:32-43 – As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
“As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.” We see that Peter did not use a lot of words, he merely said that “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Then the man was healed and did as Peter instructed. Words filled with faith in God need not be many, they just need to truly be words faith that come as the Holy Spirit leads.
“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.” She was doing what the disciples deemed as good. (James 1:27). She is named by Luke as being a disciple and therefore identifying her as a believer. Tabitha’s name in Greek is mentioned, but not before her birth name. Both Tabitha (Aramaic) and Dorcas (Greek) mean gazelle. She was likely a Jew.
“About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.” Tabitha died from an unnamed sickness. Then, something unusual was done with her body. It was washed and placed in an upstairs room. This is not what they did when someone died. They would prepare the body for the funeral and surround it with spices to cover the stench of the rotting of the flesh. But they did not do that. They washed her and placed her in an upstairs room. The upstairs room was likely either a bedroom or a place to eat. This would not have been what a Jew would have done. Why did they do this? What follows showed what they were having faith to happen.
“Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.” Peter was nearby (about twelve miles away) and so the friends of Tabitha quickly sent for Peter to come. When Peter arrived he was taken to where Dorcas (Tabitha) was lain. Her friends showed him how she had been kind and provided for the widows. Peter would have noted that Tabitha had not been prepared for a funeral. It was quite evident what they were hoping for.
“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.” Peter knew the monumental and humanly impossible thing that that these believers were hoping for. He sent them out of the room and wasted no time in getting on his knees to pray to Jesus, the only person he knew of that this task was not impossible to. After praying for an unknown amount of time Peter turned to Tabitha and merely said “Tabitha get up.” Short, succinct, and packed with the power of faith. What was Peter thinking when she opened her eyes? Was he blown away or did he, having prayed in faith, watch what he fully expected to happen? How would we react? Could we pray in faith and expect the dead to rise so that it would be no surprise when the dead arose? Jesus presented her to the believers. If per chance Peter had not been sure of the miracle, they were fully expecting the miracle of her being brought to life. They were praying and no doubts their prayers were a part of the miracle. There surely was a lot of praising God going on!
“This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.” As per the pattern of God, a miracle was done, people saw it or found out about it, praised God and were saved.
V43 was likely mentioned to lead into what would happen in Chapter 10.
Family, God has not and will not ever change. He has done miracles through His people in His timing and as He chooses. It is done to point people to God. It has always been effective. There truly is no scripture that states that this Apostolic Dispensation would be the last of the miracles and supernatural. No, God has given us a rich history of God continuing to work supernaturally through His church in the past and there is much evidence that He continues to do so. The result of these miracles, through believers with right hearts, is Jesus being glorified and souls being saved. May we also pray for the sick, and perhaps even the dead, and believe that God may indeed answer the prayer. Our God does not change and is faithful. 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 withMatthew 16:13-20 – When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
“Who am I?” “What is my purpose in life?” These are common questions that have been, or are asked, by most, if not all of us. Why are we here? The above scripture gives insight to those who will yield and receive.
Jesus asked the disciples who did people say that He was? They replied that the people think that He is a prophet of God. So then He asked them “What about you?” It was a question that was meant to go deep and though He was asking them to identify who He was, the answer to their question would identify who they were.
Peter, as he was prone to do, spoke up and proclaimed what was in his heart “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” The answer was the correct one. Yet, Peter did not come up with the answer because of his closeness with Jesus or wise estimation of Him. Jesus replied to Peter “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” Family, as we know there are none who have God’s knowledge and His wisdom except as they are given it by Him. Having this knowledge is supernatural beyond our imagination! We are called by Almighty God the Father to the feet of Jesus His Son (John 6:44, Jeremiah 1:5). The Holy Spirit has been tending the field of our hearts and making it ripe to receive the Word of God and have it take root and prosper in our hearts and minds. We fall in love with God and our minds begin to wonder how to draw closer and receive more. Our minds are directed by our hearts (made new by the Holy Spirit) to yield to God as it has, and both hearts and minds are brought into harmony with the Creator of all of us and all of the universe. God’s precious Holy Spirit uses the love in our hearts to open our minds to receive knowledge of God Himself. The Holy Spirit does not do this by Himself, there is nothing that God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit think or do that is not in perfect unity of thought and perfect unity of will with each other. They are one. What one has always thought so have the others. God is in perfect unity and is perfect in their own revelation of self and each other. There is no separation between them in any way and there is not one of them without the other. As we know, God is three in one and one in three. It is not necessary for those who love God to know how it is, only that it is. Praise our God who is infinitely beyond us in every way! Praise God!
Peter was obedient and answered the question that Jesus gave to them. In correctly knowing who Jesus was (is) Jesus would give to Peter the knowledge of who he is. What we humans so vainly and so incorrectly do to find out who we are is we look at ourselves and try to assess ourselves. We should not look at ourselves, the answer is not there. We must look to our Creator, to God, and ask Him who He says we are. He tells us we are deliverers (Moses) when we think that we are a simple shepherd who once thought of self as something good and great, and then learned humility which allowed to understand that titles of good and great only belong to God. It is the Lord who tells a man that his assessment of himself is not one important, but only the assessment of God that matters. Gideon said of himself “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least in my family!” (Judges 6:15) But the Lord had through an angel told Gideon that He was a “mighty warrior.” God then used Gideon to defeat an army too big to count with just three hundred soldiers. The Apostle Paul understood that though He knew who had God called him to be, it was not what he thought of himself that mattered, but what God thought of him that mattered.
Family, people look at us and judge by appearance. They judge our worth by worldly standards of wealth, or education, or intelligence and too often so do we. We are esteemed by the standards of the world by who we know, what we look like, or don’t look like. Are we good at sports, have we succeeded in business? Even our churches elevate men by these standards. Yet God does not look at any of these things but lifts up the humble, the misjudged and the devalued. These who seem to be of little worth are who God lifts up. He calls the weakest strong and the strongest weak and He is never, not ever wrong.
Our identity, what God desires to make true in all of us, is discovered not in how we view ourselves, or how others view us, but how we view God. When we humble ourselves before God and kneel before His Son, when we esteem the wisdom, knowledge and path of God as the way that is infinitely beyond any other supposed, but false way, then we view God correctly. As we humble ourselves before God and call only Him Savior and Lord, that is when we find out who we are and what our purpose is. Jesus, after Peter correctly stated who He was and His position, then told Peter who he was and his position. First He told Peter that He is blessed by God. Then He reminded the man born with the name Simon that Jesus had renamed him Cephas, or a rock or strong stone, and that is who he would be. Yet Peter would come to wonder if that name was true when the rock crumbled during the trial, torture and death of Jesus. But like God calling Moses a deliverer, and calling Gideon a mighty warrior, the name Jesus gave to Simon would be what best identified Him. After the resurrection and Peter’s restoration by Jesus, Peter became a rock of the early church that would have its Chief Cornerstone as none other than Jesus. Peter would be a solid rock for the early church to be encouraged by and he would live into the name that Jesus had given to him.
So what was true for Moses, Gideon and Peter is also true of us. When we want to know who we truly are and what we are called to do these become simultaneously found in knowing who Jesus is. That is when our identity and the meaning of our life is known. One thing we know of all Believers is that we are Sons and Daughters of the Most High God! Then God has a special name for all of us, something between only Him and us (Revelation 2:17). Who are you, who am I, who are all of us who call Jesus the only Lord and Savior, we are the Family of God. Who are those who don’t call Jesus Savior and Lord, why they are potential family of God, if they learn to love and obey Jesus.
So we know who we are by knowing who God is, and embracing that. I pray that all would know who they are, or could be, in Jesus who is Savior and Lord of all. He alone is King of kings and Lord of lords. Who are we? Ask Jesus. He will tell you and show you! 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 withPsalm 131 – My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. 3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.
Lord God, please do not allow me to be prideful and think that I can know Your will, that I can know the path that You have designed apart from the giving of it to me by You. My desire is to know only what You give to me. May it be Your soft, sweet and Almighty Powerful Holy Spirit that lovingly gives to me all I need as You lead me where I should go.
You Lord God cause me to be weaned from self-sufficiency and I wait in peace for the sure eternal wisdom-food that comes only from You. My lovely Lord God Almighty You are my only food. Lord, should I have within me a high place for any other thing or purpose, in Your love for me, purge it from me, burn it out, beat it and chase it from me. I desire to desire to only please You and receive from You. You Lord are the Creator and Lover of my soul and there is none other than You! You will continue to always feed me on Your divine schedule and so I will have all I need. Lord let me not be proud or foolish but to know and trust that You are my full sufficiency. I only want what You give because I trust in You! Lord may I please be entirely dependent upon You! That is how it should be and it alone is what is right and within this truth my spirit is in peace as its coordinates and its face are headed toward You and facing You. With the wind of your Spirit at my back, with my sales full and with my eyes seeing You before me, Oh Lord, the beauty of You fills my soul! Praise you God! With all that I am I praise You! Lord, please fill my eyes with You! You are the creator of all and so may I see You in all. May my mind and spirit be trained to only know, from all that I see, Your divine perspective. Lord, being with You, learning from You, trusting only in You (and certainly not in myself) is divine peace that can only be found in You.
I thank You Lord that even this knowledge that You are my every source comes from You! You Lord God are my blessed assurance and the quiet of my soul. Glory to You Lord! 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 with1 Chronicles 16:31-34 – Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” 32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! 33 Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. 34 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.
Nehemiah 8:10 – Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Joel 2:1 – Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill.
Oh Lord God Almighty we lift up Your name in the world. We happily let the overflow of the joy of our hearts and the overflow of the peace of our minds be expressed as we shout out our love and thankfulness to You!
Yes, every living thing in Heaven, in the heavens and on earth rejoices at the thought of you! We shout to the world that we serve a living Savior who loves, loves, loves us! His love of us has no need to increase as it was perfect before all of creation was created. We are perfectly and through Jesus we receive it! After every part of creation the Lord was pleased and pronounced it good. He, the Creator of it, understands the greatness of all His creation as no other. From the stars and planets that surround us to the tiny amoeba He created it all. He created all of it from nothing. Who is like the Lord? None, no not one! Praise God!
Whether every soul now acknowledges that God reigns, or if any one does not, all will. The sound of the ocean, the roar of a great waterfall, and the songs of the birds are all witnesses to the greatness of God and they are a symphony of praise to Him! Why shouldn’t we joing this great orchestra? Praise God of Your own free will! Do it willingly now, or by compulsion of the overwhelming Truth as one kneels before Him. We all will kneel before Him. Wake up, wake up, wake up all who sleep! Wake up and live a full life in the goodness of God! God is good beyond understanding and He loves us. He loves us all! Why should anyone not know the joy of the Lord when He so willingly and so fully offers it to all of us? Wake up and find the irrepressible ever present joy of the Lord and let our hearts, let our very souls be full of joy that cannot be stolen away. Love God always! Let out minds be always on Him and may our hearts always be safely and joyously entrusted to Him!
Celebrate the freedom that God gives to us through Jesus our Lord and Savior! Celebrate Him with joyful shouts of praise. Lift our hands and dance before Him! May we dance and sing to Him when we are alone and when we gather in thousands. It is something that we do now and will eternally do when we finally see Him! Oh that day! Oh that day! Oh that day! Yes, Lord!
Family, blow the trumpet! Sound the alarm! Jesus is coming! Jesus is here! Blow a loud trumpet that echoes in every street throughout every land! Sound the alarm and wake the sleeping! Let the sleeping awake and join the celebration! God is good and He loves us beyond measure and that will never change. Yes, praise God! Enjoy our family, our families, our neighbors and friends. Hold no hard feelings but rather know the joy of the Lord. Why should anguish be lashed to you! Cut it free! Have fun! Eat well and eat hardy! Laugh and dance! Clap hands and celebrate the love and joy of the Lord! Be happy and even more so, have the joy of God overwhelm us every day. Yes, praise God! Oh praise God! Be at peace! Be excited! Be joyful! God loves 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 9:26-31 – When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30 When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.
“When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple.” It is understandable that non-believers will not accept that the Lord Jesus Christ will save us and make us new. We know that many people believe sayings such as “a leopard does not change its spots.” Behind that thinking is the thought that a man is who he is and is powerless to change himself. And they are, for the most part, right. Changes to the heart are a difficult task for a person to do oneself. However, with Jesus all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). 2 Corinthians 5:17 clearly states “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Of all the verses in the Bible I wonder if this one is not the most challenged, the hardest to believe, even for those who claim to embrace the inerrancy and infallibility of the scriptures. However we must be quick to agree that it is true that it takes time for us to learn to yield to God and so become what God has for us to be. So yes, we all are new creatures. We are instantly new in the spirit, however, the flesh resists and slowly is changed. Yes, they were afraid of Saul, after all, he had been a fierce and hateful enemy of all believers.
“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.” Barnabas believed and advocated for Saul. He was a lover of souls. He was an encourager. He saw the good in people. Praise God for people like Barnabas! When one of us is grumpy, or perhaps too often difficult, the Barnabas’s of the world tell us to love, accept and pray for the person. The love of God flows through them. They trust and may be taken advantage of, but they do not regret. Actually they can never be taken advantage of because they love and accept as servants of Jesus, and do so unto Him, so they are never taken advantage of because their dedication and obedience belongs to God. So they love, accept and encourage even when others find it hard to do so. We need more more people like Barnabas.
“So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him.” Believing their brother Barnabas, the disciples accepted Saul.
Saul again went forthwith to preach Jesus to the Jews. This notes him speaking to the same Hellenistic (Greek) Jews that he had formerly associated with and had approved of their stoning of Stephen. As they had not accepted the Truth of Jesus which Stephen had preached to them they did not accept the same that Saul would preach to them. As they murdered Stephen, so they planned to murder Saul. Here we see that when the leopard has no desire to change his spots they remain the same.
“When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.” We see that the believers took care of Saul. As believers had done in Damascus, they again do here. Family, we take care of each other. They took care of Saul. We take care of each other and we put up with each other for two reasons. The first is because we love and serve Jesus. That is all the reason we should need. Still, the second reason is that the love of God lives within us and so we love God with all that we are and the same love means that we love each other. We take care of each other. God is our refuge and the church is the body of Christ. God has given us to each other to be a comfort and safe haven for us to be loved, and when necessary, to be emotionally and spiritually healed as the Holy Spirit moves amongst us. Let us be the body of Christ not only in name, but also in reality. Let’s accept each other, overlook the differences and annoyances, and just love each other. Let’s protect each other. As we do this, we show the love of God and we increasingly reveal the love of God to each other and to the world. It’s God’s plan for us all, to love Him and love each other. What a great plan! Praise our God!
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.” Jesus took away the early great adversary of His church by converting Him. The adversary became an apostle and a brother and perhaps the greatest (certainly the most active) apostle of them all. Let’s love and encourage each other. The one we encourage may turn out to be another Paul. Only God knows. We just keep loving. How wonderful! 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 9:19-25 – and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, 24 but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.
“and after taking some food, he regained his strength.” Saul had fasted for three days and so he needed a time of recuperation. He had not only fasted from all food, but also from all drink. Add to this all he had just been through. Remembering that he had been an enemy of the Lord’s, persecuting His people, the whole of the three days fasting, contemplating the new direction of his life and praying continuously must have simultaneously been exhilarating, bewildering and maybe frightening.
“Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” The original twelve apostles (even traitor Judas Iscariot) had received face to face, live with Jesus training. Wow! Paul (Saul) also was taught face to face by Jesus. He didn’t have the three years with Jesus during His earthly ministry, but he would have a lot of one-on-one training with Jesus. In fact, like the first apostles were personally called by Jesus, so was Paul. Paul was not brought to Christ by any man, but by Jesus Himself. In Galatians 1:11-12 Paul lets the Galatians know that the Gospel he preached to them was not a Gospel taught to him by any man, but was received directly from Jesus. In fact, after Saul was converted by Jesus he did not seek teaching from any man, but grew in the Lord as he sought Jesus in prayer and received great revelations from Him (Galatians 1:16). Receiving a godly education is a marvelous thing, but Paul savored that He was directly saved and taught by Jesus. In reality, no-one truly grasps the deep meaning of the Word unless taught by God (John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:13-14).
Saul had been called to preach first to the Gentiles. Yes, also to Jews, but his main ministry was to the Gentiles and their rulers. Yet he first went to the synagogues to preach to them. We understand that he did have authority from Jesus to also preach to the Jews. Paul loved his people the Jews. He loved their customs and traditions. It is easy for us to understand. Even today we see that a person whose eyes are opened and come to Jesus often struggle to leave behind the traditions and culture that have been so much a part of their lives. How much more so Saul since the Jews were the keepers of The Law and who had symbols and types of so much of what Jesus fulfilled. He loved them so much that in Romans 1:1-5 he writes that he would suffer being accursed if only his people, his race, the Jews, could be saved. Wow!
“All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” When we see a rock star, or rap artist, or anyone famous who comes out of a life of debauchery to live for Jesus, we are amazed. The original, and sometimes continuing platform they have to speak to large numbers of people can be a wonderful witness to many people. Lives can be changed. Paul was Jewish rock star. He was a Jew among Jews and now he was preaching Jesus. He had been at the murder of Stephen and had agreed with it. He had hated those of The Way and now He was of The Way. Yes people took notice. Yet, though Saul amazed many, the reaction to his first sermons was not overwhelming conversion but instead aversion. He went first to the Jews, but he was called to be the apostle to the gentiles.
“Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. 23 After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,” As the Lord taught and grew Saul the message he preached became more and more powerful. Saul was an expert in the Hebrew scriptures of God and he was able to show the Jews through their own scriptures how Jesus is the Messiah. Yet when the Jews were confounded and had no answers to Jesus, or to Stephen, they resorted to murder. They feared that Saul that would lead the people to Jesus. So, common to how they treated their own prophets, Jesus and Stephen, they plotted to kill Saul.
“but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. 25 But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.” True to their modus operandi the Jews colluded with the government to kill Saul (2 Corinthians 11:32). However Saul was warned and so the people who he had led to the Lord protected him by lowering him through an opening in the city wall so that he could depart unnoticed. Once again a person being used of God is invincible as long as the ministry the person is called to is incomplete. Not untouchable, but invincible, because God is that person’s defender and protector. Family, Hebrews 13:8 states “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Just as God has always made the people he uses invincible during their ministry, so He does for us. Not that there is not trouble or harm, but we cannot be stopped, though perhaps delayed, and we cannot be killed while our ministry remains to be completed. God the Father, Jesus the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are with us. We are protected by them and they will never stop loving us and so they never stop providing for and protecting us. We need only be busy in His will for our lives and to patiently and unshakably stay true to Him and to what He has for us to do. Family, the true superhero of this world is Jesus and we are His people. May we walk in the preordained footsteps that He has given us. In them we find all the great promises He has given us through Jesus our Lord and Savior. Praise our faithful God! Praise God, praise 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 9:10-18 – In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,
“In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered.” Ananias (obviously not the same one as we read about in Acts 5) was a devout (totally committed) disciple of the Lord. He heard when the Lord called his name. A common statement by many Christians today is that they have never known the voice of the Lord. Yet Ananias knew it. Jesus merely said his name and he immediately heard and responded “Yes, Lord.” Thinking about that quick response is revealing. His first words at hearing Jesus call him was “Yes, Lord.” It wasn’t “Lord is that really you?” It wasn’t “Oh no Lord, what do you want from me.” It was “Yes, Lord.” What is our response when we think the Lord is guiding us to something? Is it “Yes, Lord” indicating both obedience and submission, or is it something else? Ananias is not blown away by the Lord speaking to him. He surely was honored and reverent, but not surprised. Not surprised because he was in the habit of not only praying to the Lord but was expectant of hearing back. Ananias had learned to know the voice of God so this event of Jesus speaking to him was not a surprise, but just a new chapter in his ongoing life dialogue with God. We all have a “life dialogue” with Christ, don’t we?
“The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.” Jesus gave Ananias very specific direction. That may cause us to wonder how He gave Ananias specific directions about whom he would minister to and yet he merely told Philip to “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Philip was to head to a desert road that goes down to Gaza. Just go to the road. He wasn’t even given a reason to go. Ananias knew exactly where he was going and that he was to seek out Saul, who was praying.” Why? Really, why does “why” matter. Do we have to know the why to obey Jesus? No, at least we should not. If God tells us go, we go, and the only reason we need to obey is that it is instructions from God. Family, faith is acting on something we don’t understand because God said so and we know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Family, either we completely trust God, or we do not. When we do, then if God says go in that direction, we go. We may not know the final destination, or what we are to do along the way or when we get there, but we know that where God guides, God provides. He will provide all we need along the way and also when we get there, and that is all we need. When God says go, we excitedly go and knowing we are being used of God is the highest honor. It would be an honor to be used of a president, prime minister, or any high government official, but that honor is not in the universe as serving God. When God say go, then we go. Praise God!
“In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” Saul was a brand new spanking Christian. But wait, didn’t he become a Christian after Ananias prayed for him? In V15 Jesus said “This man is my chosen instrument.” He did not say that this man would be his chosen servant, but that he “is” my chosen instrument. Saul had encountered Jesus and had already submitted his life to Him. Saul obeyed the Lord and went to Damascus as Jesus instructed him, he did not need follow up ministry by any man to be a Christian but instantly gave his life to Jesus. We know this by the authority of Jesus Himself.
““Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” Ananias was not doubting God, and He was not refusing to obey the Lord, but he, as we all might, was thinking “This man Lord? Really, this guy who is out to kill all who serve You? Do You know what he has done and is dedicated to doing?” Being used of God does not exclude us from being silly. Informing God who knows everything is really not necessary. It is a good thing for us that He loves us and extends to us grace at every need of it.
“But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”” Jesus said that Saul was his chosen instrument to: 1) the Gentiles 2) the kings of Gentiles 3) the people of Israel. Saul had received the best Jewish education under the most renowned rabbi of the time. As a messenger to the Jews, few, if any were more qualified. Saul was also a Roman citizen. This automatically gave him privilege that the gentiles would note and it carried with it powerful rights. Jesus did not capriciously select Saul to serve in the capacity he did, but had, unknown to Saul, prepared him for the ministry. Again, this is not God violently taking over the life of Saul, but lovingly leading him to what would fulfill and thrill Saul as nothing else could. Just as surely as God set us the meeting of Ananias and Saul, he had chosen both of them as ones who had been prepared to serve. We know that He also prepares us. We have been called for His purpose that He has preordained us to do (Ephesians 2:10). And that to our blessing!
Jesus, at Saul’s conversion showed him how great he was going to suffer for His name. That is not surprising as Jesus warned us all that we would be hated for His name sake (Matthew 10:22). Today we must not be so anxious to say we led someone to the Lord as to exclude that belonging to Jesus will bring attacks from the enemy.
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized.” Ananias’s faith carried him forward to obey Jesus. He did as Jesus instructed and as a result Saul was healed and filled with the Holy Spirit. Since Saul was already a believer (Ananias acknowledges this as he called Saul “Brother.”) and follower of Jesus, he already had the Holy Spirit within. What Saul received at that time was the same anointing of power that the disciples had received at Pentecost. It was the anointing, the filling, of the power of the Holy Spirit to do all that God would ask him to do.
God had a plan to use Ananias for the anointing of Saul to be used. God had a plan to use Saul. He also has a plan for our lives to have the honor of serving Him. May we know His voice and always respond to Him “Yes, Lord.” Thank you Jesus! 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.