tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27704999502430578432024-03-18T05:48:50.550-04:00Prophetic Prospective Daily DevotionalJimmy DeYoung's Daily DevotionalsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5755125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-84168873004140144682024-03-15T08:52:00.003-04:002024-03-15T08:52:43.981-04:00II Corinthians 6:14<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%206:1-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Corinthians 6:1-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Our key verse for today's devotional reading is a strong exhortation from the Apostle Paul about how we must live in the last days. The directive to be "not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" is not the trend in Christian circles today.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Please don't misunderstand my thoughts. I am not saying we don't have a relationship with lost people, unbelievers, so that we can lead them to the Lord but this exhortation is about "being yoked" to unbelievers, not relationships.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">To be "yoked" is like being "harnessed together in a team" of horses or some animals of burden. We must not "yoke" ourselves to unbelievers in marriage, ministry and mission.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">It goes without saying that we must develop relationships with unbelievers, lost people, so that we might have an opportunity to lead them to Christ. In fact, Paul, in the first of this chapter, reports that he was doing all he could to give none offense in anything so that his ministry might not be blamed.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Everything we do should be for the purpose of "approving ourselves as the ministers of God", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%206:4;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 4</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%206:4-10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verses 4-10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> contain illustration after illustration of how Paul was abiding in the lifestyle that he was exhorting the Corinthians to live.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is very applicable for us as well today. Reading of what Paul had lived through helps us to understand why the Apostle told us to not be unequally yoked together.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">In <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%206:16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 16</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> Paul refers to the Temple, the place where the "Glory of the Lord" dwelled in days past; and prophetically, where the Lord will dwell among His people forever.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul's application was that we are the "Temple of the living God"; therefore, we must "come out from among them and be separate", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%206:17;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 17</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Remember, at this time in history there was still a Temple in Jerusalem as Paul tells us we are now the "dwelling place" for the Lord, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%206:19-20;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 6:19-20</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Please don't forget, there will be a physical Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem one day. But until then the Lord abides in us, the reason for Paul's example and exhortation to us.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Peter wrote that the Lord was not slack concerning His promise to come back to earth, and that He was not willing that any should perish, He wanted all to come to the knowledge of the truth and come to know Him as Saviour, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Peter%203:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Peter 3:9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">If we couple that thought from Peter, with Paul's statement in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%206:2;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, of our extended reading today, we see how we can hurry the return of Jesus to the earth. Paul says, "now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation."</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Peter%203:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Peter 3:12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> tells us that winning people to Jesus in this "day of salvation" can hasten the Lord's return.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me Lord to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, to make it a point to come out from among those that cause offense so that I can win the lost to You in this, the "day of salvation".</span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-40232780697450210002024-03-12T09:16:00.003-04:002024-03-12T09:16:58.424-04:00II Corinthians 5:20<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:10-21;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Corinthians 5:10-21</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />Congratulations on your appointment as an "ambassador". This would be a very high-ranking position for you, and for me, in any of the world’s "human governments". However, the text tells us that you and I are both "Ambassadors for Christ" in the "heavenly government". You cannot get any higher than that. What an honor He has bestowed on each of us that know Him as Lord and Savior.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Did you notice the first verse in the extended reading for today, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>? Once again we are reminded that we all will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ. As we learned last time, that will be an awesome time.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This truth found in this chapter is to remind us of why we are ambassadors. We are to go forth to the world and be involved in a "ministry of reconciliation", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 18.</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> The word "reconciliation" is used in the context of making all the facts and figures fit together in perfect harmony. We reconcile our bank accounts so that our records agree with the bank records as it relates to our personal accounts.</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />The ministry of reconciliation is to find those at odds with the Lord and reconcile them to Jesus Christ. What a privilege He has granted us in ministry – "the ministry of reconciliation".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Now, back to that which the Lord uses to motivate us to be active in our ministry of reconciliation. He reminds us of His “terror”, His holiness that requires Him to sentence people to the lake of fire, eternal damnation, if they reject Jesus, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Then He tells us of His love that flows through us which will constrain us to be involved in our ministry of reconciliation, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">verse 14.</a></span></b></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>Our appointment as an ambassador has some real responsibility. We must be busy at upholding our side of this assignment. We cannot live unto ourselves, but to Him that died and rose again for us, and all of mankind, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:15;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">verse 15.</a></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><br /><b><br /></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">If you will look at the verse just before our expanded reading, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 9 of II Corinthians 5,</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> we see that Paul was ready to labor that we might be acceptable to Him, to the Lord. I believe this verse says Paul had an ambition and that was to be acceptable of Him at all times and for all purposes.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We must be ambitious to serve Him as an "ambassador", however, the truth is we serve Him because of the love that constrains us to do so, that love of Christ.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me Lord, to remember the reasons that I am an ambassador for Christ with the ministry of reconciliation.</span></span></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-1245122671090068452024-03-09T01:08:00.004-05:002024-03-09T01:08:50.829-05:00II Corinthians 5:9<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:1-9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Corinthians 5:1-9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />Paul is writing a word of encouragement to those in Corinth about what the time of death will bring to each of us. Most of us look at death as something to be dreaded, something to be avoided at all cost.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">As I remind myself, as well as reminding you also, those who are reading this devotional, that death is not the "end all". It is actually the beginning, the beginning of "eternity future". The Apostle brings to our attention that in our present "tabernacle" our present body, there is groaning.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Let me stop right here. Everyday, as I become aware of another ache or pain that I never have experienced before, I usually spend several minutes or sometimes even several hours worrying about what the discomfort may be and what it could become.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul is telling us that we will one day put on a new "tabernacle", a new and wonderful "heavenly body". Paul talks about confidence and he reminds us of where the confidence comes from.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The Holy Spirit has sealed each of us into the "Body of Christ". It is the "earnest of the Spirit" that gives us the confidence of where we are and where we will be one day. As we are alive on this earth we are absent from the Lord and we know this by faith, not by sight.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul then speaks of another confidence, the confidence that when we die on this earth we go directly into His presence, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:8;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 8</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. At death all born again Christians are transported by angels, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016:22;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Luke 16:22</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, into the heavenlies, and into His presence.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Now re-read our key verse. Until that victorious time of death when we go into His presence, Paul says He would be ambitious and so should we be the same. Paul wanted to live a life, do the work of the Lord, so that when he saw Him he would be accepted of Him. That should be the same for us, when we see Him we might be accepted of Him.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The very next verse, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%205:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, speaks of us then standing at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul says he wants to be "well-accepted" of Christ at that time. This is a Godly ambition, because at the Judgment Seat we are given "crowns" for those works we have done for the Lord, in His power and for His glory.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Then we take these crowns and lay them at His feet as He sits upon His throne, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%204:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Revelation 4:10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, in thanksgiving for all that He has done for us. We must join Paul in this "Godly ambition", so that we can give Him the glory.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me Lord to live a life that will receive reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ so I can show thanksgiving to You, for all You have done for me, as I cast my crowns at Your feet.</span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-47191847460587053382024-03-05T23:01:00.001-05:002024-03-05T23:01:10.790-05:00II Corinthians 4:5<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.</span><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:1-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Corinthians 4:1-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />Each day as I come to my time in the Word of God, devotionally, I am continually amazed at how practical the Bible is for my every day experience of living out my Christianity in the days in which we live.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Today's passage for our devotional is no exception. I won't be able to elaborate on everything in our passage, but let me challenge you to spend time in this passage and "dig deeper" for the "treasure" in His Word.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul begins this chapter with the fact that his ministry compels him to not be dishonest even in secret, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:2;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. The apostle sets the standard for every person in ministry, and I must remind you that each of us do have a ministry in this life, thus we must follow the standard that Paul sets for us, until He calls us home.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We must walk honest, not in craftiness, not handling the Word of God deceitfully, as related to us in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:2;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>. <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:3-4;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Verses 3 and 4</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> </b>reveal how the "god of this world," that would be Satan, is today blinding the minds of the lost people of our world to the "gospel".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The "gospel",<b> <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:1-5;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">I Corinthians 15:1-5</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, </b>is the death, burial and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This "gospel" is the "power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Romans 1:16</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul exhorts us to not allow the "gospel" to be hid from the lost. That "gospel" is being hid today from lost people by false teachers, pseudo-ministries and unresolved sin.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I mention "pseudo" or "false ministry" which would be a ministry that allows the "things of this world" to direct how we perform ministry in the "church". Many churches are moving in that direction in order to build a "large" church. The "things of this world" distract from the "purity" of the "gospel" and dilutes the "gospel" so that it is of none effect.</div></div><div style="font-family: times; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>Let me skip over some great "meat" in this passage, some of the "treasure" that you can dig out for yourself in<b> <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:6-16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">verses 6-16</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.</b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The last two verses of our devotional passage for today,<b> <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:17-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">verses 17-18</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>,</b></b> look to the future. They speak of the "hard times" we may be facing today and into the future. Paul encourages us to look at these times as "light afflictions",<b><b> <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:17;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">verse 17</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, which are but for a moment.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul even mentions that the "light afflictions" are the "training ground" preparing us for the future. Paul concludes with a word of encouragement for the church at Corinth and for those of us in churches, worldwide, today.<b><br /><br /><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Corinthians%204:18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Verse 18</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> </b>says, don't look on the things of today, "things seen", because they are "temporal", for a short time. We should "look upon those things not seen", they are eternal.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">See how practical the Word of God, and prophecy are for our daily lives. The current events of this world, our afflictions for today, must not be our focus, we must focus on the "things to come", as revealed in God's prophetic Word, the "hope for tomorrow".<b><br /></b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me Lord to keep my focus not on the things of this world but instead on the truths of Your Word as I move through these days and into the future.</span></span></div></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-15810604804944538972024-03-01T07:45:00.005-05:002024-03-01T07:45:51.567-05:00I Corinthians 15:52<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:51-58;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 15:51-58</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />In my King James Scofield Reference Bible there is a "headliner" above <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:51;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 51</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>in our extended text for today's devotional. It reads "All believers will not die." This is what I call a "blessed hope".</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I've often said I don't want the "undertaker" to take care of me, I want the "upper-taker", Jesus, at the Rapture, to deal with me at the time of my departure from this world.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">In other words I want to be in the group of believers who will not die but instead will be "translated" into the heavenlies as Jesus shouts and I am called up to meet Him in the air at the Rapture of the Church. This is my "blessed hope", and yours as well.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The Rapture is the focus in these last seven verses of <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 15</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 15</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> opens with the focus on the "Resurrection" of Jesus Christ. The chapter closes with the "Rapture". I must remind you that it is because of the "Resurrection" that we have the "blessed hope" and assurance of the "Rapture".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Thessalonians%204:13-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Thessalonians 4:13-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> tells us of the procedure of the Rapture. The "archangel" shouts and the "trump of God" sounds and "Jesus shouts". Then the "dead in Christ" rise first and we, which are alive and remain on earth shall be caught up to join Jesus in the air, as we enter the heavenlies.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul writes the Church in Corinth about the Rapture about five years after he introduced the subject to those in the Church in Thessalonica, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Thessalonians%204:13-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Thessalonians 4:13-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>.</b><br /><b><br /></b></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">In our devotional passage for today we are given more details about this "blessed event". Paul tells us it will happen "in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:52;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 52a</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Remember, the "twinkling of an eye" is much, much faster than even the "blink of an eye".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The "dead in Christ" are raised, incorruptible. We that are alive at the Rapture are changed. We put on incorruption and immortality. This all happens faster than you can blink your eyes, and that is fast. We can all then join in the chorus singing in harmony with Jesus, "O death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:55;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 55</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We'll also join together to sing the "thank you chorus", "Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:57;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 57</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul concludes this passage with our "marching orders". He tells us to "Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:58;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 58</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. We do this because we know that our labor for Him is not in vain.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Prophecy is so very practical. As we better understand the next event on God's timetable for the future, the Rapture, we see how then we should live until He calls us to join Him in the heavenlies. In fact, the Rapture could happen today. Even so Lord, come quickly, even today.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you Lord for the promise of the Rapture. Help me to live for You today knowing how close we may be to the Rapture.</span></span></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-51729906684551595992024-02-27T07:53:00.001-05:002024-02-27T07:53:15.934-05:00I Corinthians 11:26<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2011:23-30;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 11:23-30</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />One of the blessings we have as the member of a local church is to join with others to partake of the Lord's Supper, or the Communion. Paul tells the church at Corinth that they must observe the Lord's Table properly and with no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">un</span>-confessed sin.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Those who come to the "Lord's Table" without having confessed all of their sins to the Lord are in danger of a serious illness or even death. The Lord wants those who come to His table to be clean before Him.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul exhorts the people of the church at Corinth to examine themselves before coming to take of the Lord's Supper. Each of us must look "inward". We must look in at our own lives, starting from the point of our salvation till today, to see if their is any need to be reconciled to God. Then we must be ready to restore our fellowship with God.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul also tells us that at the Lord's Supper we must look "backward" to what Christ did on the cross for each of us. We must look back to His death, burial, and resurrection as the means for eternal life.</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Then Paul tells us to "look upward". This is the part I really like. We are to look up everyday, awaiting the return of Christ.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We "look in" to see our relationship with Christ.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We "look back" to see what Christ has done for us.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We "look up" in anticipation of the Rapture of the Church.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The Rapture is when we get to be with Christ forever, which could happen at any moment. We are to anticipate His return each and every time we sit at the Lord's Table. Remember, prophecy is very practical.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">As you look up continually, eagerly awaiting the Lord's Return, it will help you to be pure, productive, and prepared for the gathering of God's people to be with Him forevermore.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">THOUGHT</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you, Jesus, for Your death, burial, and resurrection. Please allow our knowledge of this great event to motivate us to live for You, as we anticipate Your return.</span></span></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-66692454700164809132024-02-24T00:16:00.004-05:002024-02-24T00:16:48.613-05:00I Corinthians 10:31<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2010:23-33;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 10:23-33</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />Paul, in his letter to the Corinthian Church, lays out the guidelines for the use of the liberty that the Lord has given to us for our Christian life. The apostle writes to a very "carnal church," the church in Corinth, that everything is lawful for him, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2010:23;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 23</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, but He gives them then four guidelines for living by the "law of love" in the liberty that God gives.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul says that though everything is lawful, everything is not expedient. In other words, everything is permissible but it is not always beneficial. Then Paul sets another standard for what he does. It must edify - it must build up those around him,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2010:23;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 23</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul's lifestyle is not to promote himself or to do those things that bring attention, glory, or advancement for him,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2010:24;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 24</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Paul's goal is to promote the good of others. This type of lifestyle, serving others, is chosen by Paul so that he might bring many people to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2010:33;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 33</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Paul's standard sets the bar high for each of us to set as our goal for the life we lead daily in front of others.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">These principles in our passage from Paul's writings are worth our reading for today. But before we leave, let me share another principle, a "prophetic principle" as well as a "personal principle". Paul says in<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2010:32;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 32</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, in light of his chosen lifestyle, that he will not be an offense to the Jews, the Gentiles, or the Christians. This verse goes along with the theme of our reading for today but it also is a key component as you start to study prophecy.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul divided humankind into three members of the "human family", Gentiles, Jews, and Christians. Every person on earth is one of these family members. For the first 2,000 years of human history, from <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%201-12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Genesis 1-12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, there were only Gentiles on the earth.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">When God brought Abraham to the Promised Land, He made this Gentile, Abraham, the first Hebrew,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2014:13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Genesis 14:13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and started another people, the Jewish people.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Then, for the next 2,000 years from<b> </b>Genesis 12 to Acts 1, there were Gentiles and Jews on earth, but no Christians. A Jew or a Gentile that believed God for righteousness was a believing Jew or Gentile.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">On the Day of Pentecost,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, the Lord started the Church and there then was a third member of the human family, Christians. All these members of the human family are in play from Acts 2 to Revelation 22.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>This information is key to understanding Bible prophecy. As we read the Word, the prophetic Word, we must keep this "prophetic principle" in mind. It will help us to know who the Lord is addressing in His prophetic plan and for what time in history.<b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Dear Lord, help me to approach my study of Your word with the principles that will give me understanding of Your prophetic plan.</span></span></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-11381959893522591462024-02-18T16:24:00.000-05:002024-02-18T16:24:04.385-05:00I Corinthians 3:8<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%203:1-15;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 3:1-15</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />The apostle Paul, who wrote our reading today, also wrote to the Thessalonians about the Rapture of the church,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Thessalonians%204:13-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Thessalonians 4:13-18,</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>and he told us of the sound of the trumpet, the shout of the archangel and at our Lord's shout, we will enter His presence. It is at that time in the future that the "Judgment Seat of Christ" takes place.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The Judgment Seat of Christ is when every Christian will be judged by Jesus Christ,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%205:22;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">John 5:22,</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>for his or her labor for the Lord. It is at that time that we will receive either rewards or suffer loss of rewards.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The procedure for this awesome time before the Lord at the "Judgment Seat" is found in our reading for today. The reality that we will one day stand at the "Judgment Seat" is awesome as we consider the events that will unfold on that day.<b><br /></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%203:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Verse 12</a></span></b></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>tells us of the two categories of works that we will be judged for at the Judgment Seat.<br /><br />There are the "wood, hay and stubble" works and the "gold, silver, and precious stones" works. Those wood, hay and stubble works are works we did after becoming a Christian. These are works that we have done in our own strength and for our own glory. The gold, silver and precious stones works are those works we did in His power, for His glory.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Let me remind you that works are not for salvation, but a result of salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:8-9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Ephesians 2:8-9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Works are what follows because we are "created unto good works" after salvation,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Ephesians 2:10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">All of our works from either category will be judged, actually by fire, and what remains will be that which indicates whether we gain rewards or suffer loss. Naturally, those wood, hay and stubble works will be burned up.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The gold, silver and precious stones works will be purified in the fire and bring us rewards for the works we have done for Him and for His glory and in His power.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">These works are the "righteous acts" we do during our lifetime as a Christian. The righteous acts then become our "wedding garments" that we, as the bride of Christ, will wear when we are married to Jesus Christ.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This "marriage ceremony" will precede the "marriage supper of the Lamb,"<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:7-9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Revelation 19:7-9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. It is exciting to consider the wedding garment we will wear at that ceremony for our groom, Jesus Christ.</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />However, it is a bit concerning to realize that one day, possibly very soon, at the Rapture we will stand face to face with Christ and have to respond at the Judgment Seat of Christ. This should motivate each us to get things in order so we will be ready to face Jesus. It could be today!<b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me to do all works in His power and only for His honor and glory.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-10429962078490338912024-02-13T20:32:00.000-05:002024-02-13T20:32:02.718-05:00I Corinthians 2:9<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%202:1-16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 2:1-16</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b><br /></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>I love our key verse,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%202:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, it is a promise of things that God will give me and you, if you know Him as Lord and Saviour, things that I can not even imagine. My eyes have not seen them, my ears have not heard them and my heart is void of what these things might be that will come to me in the future.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">What we do know is that God has prepared these things. Because I love Him they will come to me. I feel like a little child who has the prospect of receiving "something special" from someone special. In order to receive from God this "something special" we must not only love the Lord, but we must be "born again," become a "new creation".<b><br /></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%202:14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Verse 14</a></span></b></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>states that the "natural man," a lost person without Jesus Christ, will not be able to know about God's gift. Whatever God would count as special, the lost person would consider it all foolishness. The gifts coming from the Lord will be better in focus as we study through the Word of the Lord, the Bible.</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>Paul explains in this passage the ministry of the Holy Spirit in communicating to the believer what God wants him to know. The first method that God uses to communicate to man is "inspiration",<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%202:13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>.</b><br /><b><br /></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul says it wasn't his words and his wisdom but the Holy Spirit breathing into him, as He did into some 40 men over 1,500 years, 66 books, the Bible; with God's message for humankind,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Timothy%203:16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Timothy 3:16</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">These "truths" or "revelation" were also God-breathed and given to men, men the Lord Himself chose. None of the prophets received these truths by his own will but were Holy men of God and were able to speak prophetic truth as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Peter%201:21;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Peter 1:21</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>.</b><br /><b><br /></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Maybe the most exciting thought in this passage is that we as Christians have the Holy Spirit living in us to not only empower us but also to teach us through "illumination", a third ministry of the Holy Spirit.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Jesus told His disciples that He must go, but He promised that when He had gone, He would send the Holy Spirit to teach us. And notice, the Holy Spirit would not only teach us but teach us things to come,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016:7-14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">John 16:7-14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I must admit that after over 50 years of studying God's Word there is much more than I can imagine that the Lord has in store for me, in the future.<b><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you, Lord, for breathing into Godly men, Your Word, and then sending the Holy Spirit, the one who gave men Your Word, to dwell within me and teach me Your Word.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-53050034979169681882024-02-11T18:51:00.006-05:002024-02-11T18:51:50.300-05:00I Corinthians 1:18<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study -<b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:18-31;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 1:18-31</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />In the passage for our devotional reading today we see how those today who exalt "human wisdom" will one day come to an understanding that man's wisdom is "foolishness in the things of God".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">That's how Paul begins our devotional passage, which is an excerpt of his letter to the very "carnal church" in Corinth. What a powerful truth, that which seems to be "foolishness" to those of the world today who are not saved, not believers in Jesus Christ for eternal life, how they consider the "preaching of the cross" foolishness.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">But Paul tells those of us who do believe that we came to that belief by the "preaching of the cross" which is to those of us who believe, the "power of God," <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">If we take a closer look at the philosophy of this world today, and its people, they are bound up by "human wisdom," the knowledge and intellect of man. Even the "church," the institution ordained by God on Earth, has appropriated that "humanistic" philosophy, that "human wisdom," which they have made key to their "pattern of life".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul uses this letter to the Church in Corinth, who had bought into this philosophy and he revealed to them that man's wisdom was "foolishness". God's wisdom is what we should long for. It is very evident in what is termed "post-modern Christianity" in the Church today that they have allowed for "man's wisdom" to take control of leadership and ministry.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">In fact, Paul even said that the foolishness of God, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:25;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 25</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, is wiser than men. <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:27;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 27</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> reveals God's plan for this matter. God has chosen the "foolishness of this world to confound the wise".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul realizes that many in this world must have "signs" to believe what is of the Lord, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:22;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 22</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, especially the Jew. If one has to have a "sign" to believe, "faith" will not then spring forth.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2011:1;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Hebrews 11:1</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> says that "faith" is the substance of things "hoped for," the evidence of things "not seen". If we must have a "sign" before we believe then we don't have "real faith".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God," <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:17;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 10:17</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. The Jew and some others require a "sign" and the Gentile craves for wisdom, the wisdom of man, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:22;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 22</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Both are the opposite of God's design for the Church and it's ministry and worship.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul sets the standard, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%201:23;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 23</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, "we preach Christ crucified". Not only crucified, but resurrected, ascended into heaven and one day coming again. Now that is "real wisdom," God's wisdom.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me to stay in the Bible for the Godly wisdom that will carry me through life and into eternity future.</span></span></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-80658552165769385622024-02-08T00:12:00.003-05:002024-02-08T00:12:44.505-05:00Romans 14:10<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:1-13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 14:1-13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>Paul is writing to the church in Rome, in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">chapter 14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, at least the first part of the chapter, about a problem among the people of the church.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">There are those who are saying, "We can eat this or that but we must not eat the other." Then there are those who say, "We esteem this day more important than any other and you don't do that." Paul addresses these issues in several ways.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul says whatever we eat, if we are Christians, it's unto the Lord, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:6;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">verse 6</a>.</span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> Also, what day we esteem, that will be done unto the Lord as well. In fact, Paul says, if we are alive we are living unto the Lord, or we should be doing so, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:8;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 8</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Then Paul exhorts the Romans, as well as each of us today, to stop judging one another any more. Paul says what must be judged is that we must not put a stumbling block or occasion to fall in our brothers way, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul then asks the question, "Why doest thou judge your brother, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, especially in light of the fact that we are all going to stand before the "Judgment Seat of Christ" one day.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is not a judgment to determine whether we are saved or lost. That will be determined before we ever get to the "Judgment Seat of Christ". There will be only "saved" people at the "Judgment Seat of Christ".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> states that "Every one of us shall give an account of himself to God". The "Judgment Seat of Christ" takes place right after the Rapture of the Church. When we leave this earth at the time that Jesus shouts to call us up to join Him in the "air", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Thessalonians%204:13-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Thessalonians 4:13-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, we stand before the Lord right at that moment, in the "twinkling of an eye", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%2015:52;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 15:52</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">After departing earth we are "face to face with Jesus", in order that we can give an account of ourselves. It's at the "Judgment Seat" where we are judged to determine that our works are those which qualify as our "righteous acts", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:8;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Revelation 19:8</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. These "righteous acts" make up our "wedding garment" for the "marriage ceremony" and the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Also at the "Judgment Seat" we will be given "crowns" as rewards, crowns for bringing our bodies under subjection, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Corinthians%209:27;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Corinthians 9:27</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>; for being soul-winners, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Thessalonians%202:19;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Thessalonians 2:19</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>; for not yielding to temptation, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">James 1:12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>; for helping young believers grow in the Lord, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Peter%205:1-14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Peter 5:1-14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>; and for eagerly looking for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Timothy%204:8;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Timothy 4:8</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We will then take these crowns to the throne, where Jesus is seated, and we cast them at the feet of Jesus in thanksgiving for what He has, is, and will do for us, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%204:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Revelation 4:10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul has a great question for each of us as we close our time in the Word for this devotional, why do we judge our brothers and sisters?</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me to live today, Lord, knowing I will stand at the "Judgment Seat of Christ", to receive crowns to cast at Your feet in thanksgiving. Help me not to judge others, but to make sure I am not a stumbling block.</span></span></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-20484025167103878692024-02-04T12:02:00.005-05:002024-02-04T12:02:39.374-05:00Romans 11:23<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011:7-25;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 11:7-25</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209-11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Romans 9, 10 and 11</span></b></span></a></b><b> </b>are very prophetic in their nature and they speak of Israel Past, Present and Prophetic.<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> is "Israel past",<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>is "Israel present" and<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> is "Israel prophetic".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The phrase in our key verse, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011:25;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 25</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, is an accurate description of Israel today. They are a people that are blinded to the truths of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This description of the Jewish people, however, sets the playing field even for those who are not Jewish to be a part of the end time scenario that will unfold leading up to the returning Messiah. By that, I mean that both Jews and Gentiles are able to come to Jesus Christ as the Messiah and their Saviour.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The phrase "fullness of the Gentiles" is referring to those Gentiles who have been saved since that first Gentile came to Christ, Cornelius, in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2010;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. God at that time set in motion the opportunity for all Gentiles to get saved.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Jewish people will have an opportunity to be saved today, because there are some Jews that will understand the gospel and get saved since it is only "blindness in part". However, the mass majority of the Jewish people are, by choice, blinded to the truth of the gospel.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The good news for the Gentile is that now the gospel message will be focused on them "until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in". That "fullness of the Gentiles" is a term that is defined as the time when the last Gentile gets saved to make it the "fullness".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">When is the "fullness" completed, I do not know, only the Lord knows that number of Gentiles who will get saved. However, when it happens, the Lord will return and Jewish people, all of them, will hear the Gospel and have an opportunity to respond to the gospel and get saved.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Can Jews get saved before the "fullness"? The answer is yes. In fact, in our reading is the way to lead a Jew to Jesus Christ, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011:11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 11.</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> It tells us that we can provoke a Jew to turn to Jesus because he or she is jealous for what we have in Jesus.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">That is the reason that God turned to the Gentiles, so He could use the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy and then bring them to Himself. In fact, leading Gentiles to the Lord actually helps hasten the return of the Lord, as well, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%203:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">2 Peter 3:12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Make my life in Christ that which provokes others to jealousy so that they might come to Jesus Christ and thus bring the Lord back sooner.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-57693215265990635962024-02-02T00:04:00.003-05:002024-02-02T00:04:57.195-05:00Romans 10:12<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">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.</span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:9-21;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 10:9-21</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Romans 10</a></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> is a very important passage as it relates to someone coming to faith in Jesus Christ, and in fact, the passage also reveals how each of us develop faith. As you read through the extended reading I am sure you will recognize the verses that are used when leading someone to faith in Jesus Christ, as Lord and Saviour.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">In <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> we see the gospel, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the power of God to all that believe, the Jews first, and also Gentiles, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 1:16</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, which is confirmation of <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>.</b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, states the phrase, which is used by those who want to be saved, inviting Christ into their heart. I can remember the day I quoted<b> <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Romans 10:13</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> </b>and asked Jesus into my heart. The verse is not only an invitation for Him to save us, but a guarantee that He will do so if we call upon Him. What a blessed promise.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">By the way<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>says that this is the method of salvation, confessing and believing that Jesus rose from the dead,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and calling upon Him to save us, it is the method of salvation to the Greek, the Gentile and to the Jews.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Some today say that Jews do not have to come by the way of the cross and through Jesus Christ to be saved. That is heresy. All must come to salvation, only through Jesus Christ.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">There is so much I could share with you from this passage, let me notice with you two more great truths.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010:17;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 17</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>says that we are able to obtain faith by the Word of God and our hearing of the Word of God. We can help others have "faith" by speaking the Word of God so that they hear it and attain "faith". We must go and speak the Word to those who need Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.<b><br /><br /><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Romans 10</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> </b>is a message that is technically focusing on the Jewish people, as is<b> <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209,11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Romans 9 & 11</span></b></span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Notice that we who come from a Gentile background, instead of a Jewish background, God has given us salvation so that we might be able to provoke Jews to jealousy, that they might want what we have in Jesus.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Even though God has a plan for the Jews in the future, we can be used of the Lord today to bring the message of salvation to His chosen people, the Jewish people. This work of bringing the "gospel message" to Jewish people must be done even as we watch the Lord preparing the Jews for His future program for them.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: Lord, please use me to speak Your Word of salvation to those who need it, both Gentiles and Jews.</span></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-40804573295557254572024-01-27T12:48:00.000-05:002024-01-27T12:48:03.988-05:00Romans 9:13<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209:6-14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 9:6-14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>Tucked into the doctrinal teaching of Paul in this prophetic ninth chapter of Romans we find an example of the sovereignty of God as well as a very significant prophetic truth that will be played out in the end times.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Our key verse is a quote from an Old Testament prophet, the last of the prophets, Malachi. The quote is taken from the first chapter of Malachi where the Lord is speaking through "His messenger Malachi" to the Jews and the Palestinian people of today. I'll get into more on that in just a moment.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Malachi had told Jacob and the descendants of Jacob, the Jews, that he loved them,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201:2;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Malachi 1:2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br />Then in<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201:3;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 3</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, Malachi records the words of the Lord that He "hated" Esau. This is the quote that Paul wrote to the Romans and in particular the Jews in the church in Rome.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Remember, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209-11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 9, 10 & 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>are a message to the Jews about Israel past,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans </span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">9</span></a></span>; Israel present,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2010;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>; and Israel prophetic,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<b><br /></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209:14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Verse 14</a></span></b></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>of our extended reading for today is an answer to anyone who might question the Lord as to whether He was unrighteous in His statement that He "hated" Esau. This word "hate" is not expressing an "emotional experience" of the Lord.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Reading<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209:10-12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 10-12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>will help us to understand that this is an example of the "sovereignty" of God, not a "hatred" of Esau and his descendants. Notice in<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%209:11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>how that before the twin boys of Isaac and Rebecca were even born, "neither having done any good or evil," that the Lord, through "sovereign selection," selected the younger twin to be born Jacob, to be served by the elder brother, Esau.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">That was contrary to tradition. The eldest son was to receive the "birthright" and the "blessing" given to him by his Father so that he would continue the heritage of his Father. God changed that and while the boys were still in their mother's womb God determined that the "elder" would serve the "younger".<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">This act of "hatred" had nothing to do with salvation, but "selection", selecting the elder son to serve the younger son. This is a significant selection by the Lord. It put in place a 4,000 year old conflict that will only be settled when Jesus returns to earth.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">A study of a number of passages will reveal that Jacob, the second born, "selected seed," would become the nation of the Jewish people, Israel. The elder son, Esau, would be the father of the Edomites, the Palestinian people of today. (See my audio series, "Esau and the Palestinians".)<b><br /></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><b><span class="yshortcuts"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2035;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Ezekiel 35</a></span></b></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>, </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Malachi%201;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Malachi 1</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>and the little Old Testament book of<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Obadiah%201;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Obadiah</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>reveal that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict started over 4,000 years ago and will only be resolved when Jesus Christ returns to Jerusalem,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Obadiah%201:15-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Obadiah 15-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">All the efforts of world leaders today will not completely resolve the Israeli-Palestinian (Jacob-Esau) conflict. Only Jesus can do that when He comes back.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">By the way, the prophecies of this conflict between the Jews and the Palestinians have never been as intense as they are now, or at any other time in history. The prophetic resolution of the conflict could be very near to fulfillment.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The stage is set, all the actors are in place and the curtain is about to go up on the final act of this prophetic drama. Keep looking up, because before these prophecies are fulfilled, the Rapture happens and it could happen, today!<b><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Dear Lord, please help me to recognize Your prophetic scenario, playing out in current events, and help me to live my Christian life in light of Your soon return to settle all conflicts.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-30734921001001009442024-01-21T19:10:00.005-05:002024-01-21T19:10:53.391-05:00Romans 1:20<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.</span></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:19-32;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 1:19-32</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>The extended portion of the reading for today is very difficult to read and then apply to our understanding of the Lord's way for us during these days.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The first two verses of our reading for today, including our key verse, reveal to us that all of "mankind" is without excuse, if they reject Jesus Christ. You might say, what about those who have never heard the gospel, the un-reached peoples of this world.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">My first response has to be what Paul wrote to the Romans and, in fact, to all of us. All of humankind has the "light of conscience" and the "light of creation".<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">We are all born as sinners but until we sear our conscience we know right from wrong. Also, in God's creation we can see His glory made manifest,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2019;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Psalm 19</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>.</b><br /><b><br /></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">After these un-reached accept the "light of conscience" and the "light of creation" the Lord will get the message of salvation to them. By the way, this is a great passage for worldwide missions. There are people out there who need to hear, and how can they hear unless we go?<b><br /></b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><br /></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:21-32;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Verses 21-32</a></span></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b> </b>discuss a lifestyle that is prevalent today, "man leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their flesh, one toward another, men with men", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:27;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 27</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. This is referring to a sexual relationship. The passage tells us that woman would do the same, "change the natural use into that which is against nature,"<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:26;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 26</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul explains why this happens in<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:25;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 25</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. It's because mankind "changes the truth of God into a lie and worships and serves the creation more than the Creator." Because of these activities against God and against nature, He will give those who do so over to a "reprobate mind",<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:28;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 28</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Please notice also that Paul warns those who allow this to continue, they are actually sinning against God and nature, they are in a position of receiving judgment as well, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:32;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 32</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Before we conclude our thoughts on this passage I am reminded of a passage of prophetic truth recorded by Dr Luke who wrote the record of the Lord's message, which refer to these days.<b><br /></b><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The passage in Luke, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2017:28-30;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">chapter 17:28-30</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, speaks of the coming of the Lord back to the earth. The passage describes a day when He comes that will be similar to the "days of Lot". Remember, Lot was one who lived in Sodom.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Remember, the sins of "Sodom", described in our extended reading for today, brought judgment upon the people and Sodom and Gomorrah, which were both destroyed, forever.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We must pay attention to society today, as we study God's prophetic word, ie: Luke's record of the words of Jesus. We must realize where we are in God's time. These days are as it was in the "days of Lot".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">It seems that we are quickly approaching the day when Jesus will shout and call us to join Him in the heavenlies. Today could be that day.<b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, help me to discern the times and to realize that your coming is very close. Help me to live my life in light of this knowledge.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-37558677748590052662024-01-18T00:10:00.003-05:002024-01-18T00:10:33.676-05:00Romans 1:4<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:</span></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:1-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 1:1-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Rome, in fact, all of the Christians in Rome while he was traveling across some parts of Europe and Asia preaching and teaching. Paul had become an apostle to the Gentiles, which made up most of the body of Christ in Rome.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Though Paul had not been to Rome, many of those who had trusted Christ and then would have moved to Rome, made up the church in this city. Paul had led these people to the Lord during one of his mission trips.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Some believe that Peter started the church in Rome, which is entirely incorrect. Peter never even visited Rome much less started a church there. If anyone was responsible for the church in Rome it was Paul and his converts who went to live in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul was a great man of prayer, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and he prayed for the body of Christ in Rome to the Lord, as he says, without ceasing. Paul so very much wanted to visit the church in Rome to teach them the greater truths that the Lord had revealed to him.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Our key verse, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:4;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 4</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, is such a powerful verse as it tells us that God had declared Jesus, His Son, to have power and that was made manifest by His resurrection.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The resurrection of Jesus from the dead guaranteed He was the Son of God who died to take away our sins and that He was the one qualified to do that. The resurrection also was a display of power that is available to all believers by faith, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%201:19-20;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Ephesians 1:19-20</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">There is one other authority that was given to Jesus, as a result of His resurrection, and that is to foretell the future. <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201:18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Revelation 1:18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> is the testimony of the "resurrected Jesus Christ". In <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201:19;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Revelation 1:19</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>, </b>this resurrected Jesus Christ tells John the past, the present and the future.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The resurrection of Jesus Christ also is the power of God for salvation to the Jew first and to the Gentile, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 16</span></a></span>. Notice the last verse of our extended reading, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 18</span></a></span>. The "wrath of God" is and will be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is a prophecy which says that when Jesus comes from heaven, He will come as the "Judge" to judge ungodliness and unrighteousness, that which is spoken of not only in <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:19-32;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 1:19-32</span></a></span> but the first 3 chapters of the book of Romans as well.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201:24-28;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 1:24-28</span></a></span> reveals the lifestyle of a growing number of people in our world and sets the stage for the time of the return of the Messiah Jesus Christ.<b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me to live in and by the "resurrection power" of God made manifest in the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-29118085290795013892024-01-14T21:53:00.003-05:002024-01-14T21:53:43.473-05:00Acts 20:24<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.</span></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:17-31;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 20:17-31</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />This passage in Acts verifies the "gospel" that we are preaching today, the "gospel of grace", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:24;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 24b</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, our key verse for our devotional reading today. There is a difference between the "gospel" preached in the "Gospels", which will be preached during the Tribulation Period, and today.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Today, as the text reveals, we are preaching the "gospel of grace". Both, during the time of the ministry of Jesus on earth and the Tribulation, the "gospel of the kingdom" was and will be preached.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The "gospel of the kingdom" is basically that the "kingdom" is coming to the Earth, when Jesus sets up His eternal Kingdom, and that the "gospel", the "good news" is that Jesus will save you, give you "eternal life".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is the message that will be preached throughout all the world during the Tribulation, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2024:14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Matthew 24:14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and then Jesus will come back at His Second Coming. However, today, before the Rapture, we are preaching the "gospel of grace", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:24;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 24b</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:21;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1197534386_1">Verse 21</span></span></a></span> is a statement by the Apostle Paul who was involved in a ministry of soul winning towards both the Jew and the Gentile. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:19;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 19</span></a></span> informs the reader that Paul did this ministry "with all humility of mind, and with many tears and testing".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul did not even count his life "dear" so that he might finish the "course" that he was following, with "joy" so that he might get the "gospel of grace" out to a lost and dying world. What a description for this Christ-like servant to set as his pattern, for us to follow in this day.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">There is a warning from Paul, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:29-31;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 29-31</span></a></span>, which speaks of the time leading up to the coming period of judgment, the Tribulation, when "grievous wolves" will try and devour the "flock", the "Church". Those "grievous wolves" are "false teachers" that will go after the "body of Christ" in the last days. We must be on alert to this warning.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I love Paul’s statement about his ministry over a three year period of time, <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2020:31;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 31</span></a></span>. Paul did not cease warning everyone, "night and day", and he did his ministry in "tears". This is again another model for those of us in work for the Lord, to follow as we do the work with "compassion" and do it "continually".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This passage for our devotional today helps us to see how to be involved in preaching the "gospel of grace" in these the last days. Paul did this "night and day" as he waited for the Lord’s return. This is a must program for us to follow as we await His shout for us to join Him in the "air". It could be today.</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me dear Lord to "continually" preach the "gospel of grace" with "compassion" as I await your shout to join you in the heavenlies.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-50646800853798338662024-01-11T19:15:00.002-05:002024-01-11T19:15:18.365-05:00Acts 19:10<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">And this continued by the space of two years so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.</span></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study – <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:8-22;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 19:8-22</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />This passage of scripture is a portion of the record of the ministry of Paul on his second missionary journey that would take him into Asia Minor, to Ephesus on the coast of the Agean Sea. This area today is the country of Turkey.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul would come to this city, one of the major cities of Asia, the location of the temple of the goddess Diana. The great leader of the Grecian Empire, Alexander the Great had visited this city and built a great theater that would seat over 25,000 people.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:8;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 8</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> reveals the "ministry method" used by the Apostle as he endeavored to reach the area with the message of the gospel. For three months Paul would "speak boldly, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God."<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Many living in Ephesus would reject the message and go to their neighbors, speaking "evil" of the "way", which would drive Paul to "separate the disciples" for additional teaching. Paul would use the "school of Tyrannus" for the next two years for this special training, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I’ve been in Ephesus at the spot where the "school" was located almost 2,000 years ago. As I now read this record of Paul’s ministry I am thrilled with the way God used one man to impact one of the great cites of the world at that time in history.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">It is also very impressive to see how God worked in the lives of many people who were involved in the worship of a false god, or should I say "goddess", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:23-41;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 23-41</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This major impact on these people and their great city was because of the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:20;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 20</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. What a lesson for each of us today, we must use the "Word of God" to impact this world, not the methods of the world.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Please notice one other verse, our key verse for today’s devotional reading, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2019:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. The text says that over a two year period, all that dwelled in Asia heard the Word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is an awesome achievement in ministry, a whole region of the world hearing the word of God. But notice the region that this ministry affected, Asia Minor. This is where the church in Ephesus would be used to establish six other churches that would receive a special message from Jesus, personally to them.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Of course, we are talking about the seven churches of Asia Manor, the churches of <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%202-3;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Revelation 2 and 3</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. The letters that these churches would receive from Jesus would be the last words of Jesus to the Church.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">All work that we do for the Lord, though it may seem "little" in our eyes, is "much" in the eyes and plan of God. Paul’s example of ministry and the method of his ministry should encourage each of us to keep at the task of serving Him until He shouts for us to join Him in the "air" at the time of the Rapture, which could happen today.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you Lord for the "example" that you give to me through the ministry of your chosen servants. Might I follow this example of the "method of ministry" that Paul used to reach an entire region of the world, and might I do this eagerly as I await the shout by Jesus at the Rapture.</span></span></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-58741713807833491022024-01-08T23:21:00.003-05:002024-01-08T23:21:31.620-05:00Acts 17:6<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also.</span></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:1-14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 17:1-14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>This passage in Acts, "The Action Book" of first century Christianity is a record of Paul's visit to Thessalonica and also to Berea.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This second missionary journey of Paul would result in a number of Greeks and Jews coming to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The trip also relates the story of how young Timothy got involved in Paul's ministry, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2016:1-5;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 16:1-5</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Paul arrives in Thessalonica and goes to the synagogue for three weeks straight to reason with the Jews about Jesus Christ. This method of evangelism is one that Paul used very effectively.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">As a result of Paul's reasoning with the Jews from the scriptures in the synagogues, there were a number who trusted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. We must "reason from the scriptures" when we work at the ministry of evangelism.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">It is also interesting that Paul went into the synagogue, "as his manner was", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:2;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. The synagogue system was not developed until the Babylonian Captivity when the Jews were out of the land, without a Temple, thus the need for a "worship center".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">All along God had a plan to use the "synagogues as centers of evangelism". God's plan always works best. We need to find out what His plan is and join Him as a “partner” in that ministry plan.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">By the way, notice that Paul was only there for three weeks and with the converts he started a church. It was to these "young Christians" that Paul wrote a letter, I Thessalonians, explaining the "Rapture".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This was "real meat” for young Christians. The "town fathers" did not like what was happening under Paul's ministry and they called together some of the new converts to try and downplay the working of God.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">I love the phrase in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:6;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 6</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, "these that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." Oh, that we could be referred to as those who are “turning the world upside down”.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The motivation of these "world turners" was their understanding that the return of Jesus Christ could happen at any moment, thus they went forward with intensity to serve Him before He did return.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is evident by what Paul wrote these new converts in Thessalonica about the Rapture, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Thessalonians%204:13-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Thessalonians 4:13-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. As we become more aware of the soon return of the Lord we will go forth to do ministry as those who were turning the world upside down.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Just one last thought from Paul's sojourn in Berea. He preached there and the Bereans heard the Word and then searched the scriptures to see if Paul was correct, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2017:11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This is a great principle, hear the Word preached and study the Scriptures for yourselves to see if the preacher is Biblically correct. Please apply this principle to my teaching.</div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me dear Lord, to understand the Scriptures, in particular the prophetic Scriptures, and then to apply them to my daily life as I await Your call at the Rapture to join You in the heavenlies.</span></span></b></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-21411073414504725632024-01-05T08:50:00.004-05:002024-01-05T08:50:35.256-05:00Acts 15:15<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written.</span></p><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2015:1-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 15:1-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />Our extended portion for today's devotional reading is a record of a meeting of the “church council” at Jerusalem about 15 years after Jesus had gone back to heaven.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Remember, just before He left earth from the Mt of Olives in Jerusalem, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 1</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, our Lord told His disciples that they were to stay in Jerusalem until they had received “power” and then they were to give the people of Jerusalem the gospel message of how they could be saved, and be prepared for here, and after death.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">After Jerusalem they were to go to Judea and Samaria and then to the “uttermost parts” of the earth with this “gospel” message.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Peter, the preacher on the “Day of Pentecost” and a disciple of Jesus Christ, saw many results to his ministry and many Jews did get saved. But also remember, that it was Peter who went to Cornelius in Ceasarea and led this first Gentile to Jesus Christ as his Saviour.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Once converted, Paul also traveled around that region of the world and led many Gentiles to a salvation experience. With the conversion of these many Gentiles, some in the church in Jerusalem were concerned. They believed that a Gentile must first become a Jew and then a Christian.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Therefore, the church council in Jerusalem, with James, the head of the church, not Peter by the way, James called everyone together for this council. James had both Peter and Paul rehearse the exciting stories of Gentile conversions to Christ that they had witnessed and participated in during their traveling ministries.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">The bottom-line result of this council meeting was that James stood and said, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2015:13-18;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 13-18</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>, </b>that the scriptures agreed with what was happening. Salvation was, and is, for the Gentiles as well as the Jews. In fact, this is God's special program for today, "visiting the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His names sake," <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2015:14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Then James said, after God's plan for reaching Gentiles is complete, the Lord will return to build the “house of David” with Jesus returning to build His temple and then to rule and reign from it in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011:25;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Romans 11:25</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> says this is God's program, "until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in". When the last Gentile gets saved, a number that only God knows, then Jesus will come back.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">What an opportunity for each of us today, to witness to Gentiles as well as Jews. Just think, you could lead that last Gentile to Jesus, and then Jesus would come.</div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me Lord, to be a witness of my faith for you, Jesus, to all people both Gentiles and Jews.</span></span></b></div></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-25046065549370093172024-01-01T23:49:00.001-05:002024-01-01T23:49:32.595-05:00Acts 7:55<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God.</span></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:54-8:4;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 7:54-8:4</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />Our extended reading for today's devotional is the record of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, and the very first mention of the one who would be known as the Apostle Paul.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Stephen had been chosen as one of the first deacons, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206:5;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 6:5</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and was a man "full of faith and the Holy Spirit", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206:5;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 5</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Because the "Synagogue Council" was unable to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 6:10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, the Council brought this newly appointed deacon to address them with His own defense.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">By the way, Dr Luke records that even the "Council" saw Stephen's "face as though it had been the face of an angel", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%206:15;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 6:15</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Not only were the members of the Council present for Stephen's address but the High Priest at the Temple was there to hear Stephen speak as well, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:1;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 7:1</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">What Stephen had to say, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:2-53;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 7:2-53</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, was so powerful that it "cut to the heart", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:54;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 54</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, of those in the Council so that they rushed forward and "gnashed upon him with their teeth",<b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:54;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 54</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:55;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 55</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> has long been a puzzle to me, however, I think I figured out what was going on that day of Stephen's death. The verse tells us that Stephen, "just before he was cast out of the city and stoned," <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:58;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 58</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, looked up into heaven and saw the "glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:55;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 55</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">My confusion was because I read in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%201:3;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Hebrews 1:3</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%208:1;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">8:1</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2012:2;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">12:2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> that Jesus is now "seated" at the right of God in the heavens, Stephen saw Him "standing". I am not dogmatic but I believe that Jesus may well have stood up to greet Stephen, the first Christian martyr, as he entered heaven.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">This record of Stephen seeing Jesus, whether "seated or standing", He is at the right hand of the Father, not seated on His throne, His "promised throne", since Jesus is not now "King" of His coming Kingdom.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">God the Father will give the throne and the Kingdom to His Son after the Tribulation Period, at His Second Coming. Bible prophecy reveals that the time of His Second Coming is quickly approaching.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%207:58;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 58</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> introduces us to an enemy of God. This is one who was fierce in his attacks on the Christians, the members of the Church at Jerusalem, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208:1;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">8:1</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. It was a man named "Saul" who would one day be a leader of these Christians.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">Until that time Saul would bring about "great persecution" against the Church, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208:1;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">8:1</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, making "havoc of the Church", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208:3;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">8:3</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Notice the positive aspect of persecution, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%208:4;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 4</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, the Christians were "scattered abroad, going everywhere preaching the Word".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;">We can rejoice when persecution comes, it will allow us to change "opposition into opportunity".<br /><br /></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you Lord for being there at the right hand of God the Father as my special provider, help me to be full of faith and the Holy Spirit as Stephen was, and to turn opposition into opportunity.</span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-88513122702980410702023-12-29T09:09:00.002-05:002023-12-29T09:09:17.177-05:00Acts 5:38-39<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: For if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.</span></p><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:29-42;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 5:29-42</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><br />As we come to the fifth chapter of Acts we see recorded here, continuing persecution of the early church, in fact a church less than one year old was being persecuted.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">In <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:17-28;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 5:17-28</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> we see the record of the "second persecution", with the apostles being placed in jail for teaching about Jesus Christ and "The Way". It was while the apostles were in a "common prison" that an "angel of the Lord" released them and told them to "go, stand and speak", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:20;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 20</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">The High Priest and the Captain of the Temple gathered the apostles together and told them, "you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:28;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 28</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. What a testimony it was for these men who were following the directions of Jesus Christ, given to them before He ascended into heaven.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">Peter answered these Temple leaders, "we ought to obey God rather than man", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:29;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 29</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. That is our call for today, as well, to obey God rather than men. Notice the wisdom of the one member of the council overseeing this incident, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:34-39;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 34-39</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">The man, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, had watched the entire proceedings and told the other Temple leaders, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:38;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 38</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, "If this work is of men, it will come to nought". Gamaliel's next statement shows his great wisdom, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:39;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 39</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, "but if it be of God you can not overthrow it; lest haply you be found even to fight against God".<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">What a profound statement. The statement was also prophetic, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2046:9-10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Isaiah 46:9-10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. In retrospect we now know it was not of men but of God as Gamaliel said.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">The last three verses of <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 5</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> reveal how these handful of apostles spread the message of the gospel, the story of Jesus, around the world.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">First of all, they rejoiced in the fact that they were to be found worthy of suffering shame for the name of Jesus, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:41;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 41</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:40;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 40</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> reveals to us that the apostles were actually beaten for preaching the gospel.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">Their response to this persecution was that, as recorded in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%205:42;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 42</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, these men went out "daily", not just on Sunday, but daily they went out to teach or preach Jesus. They also went into the "marketplace," in fact, onto the Temple Mount, to teach and preach Jesus. These men not only went "public" but they went "private" as they went to "every house" to talk to the people about the Lord.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">Let me remind you once again of the message. They would "teach and preach Jesus Christ". They weren't teaching politics, social issues, war or no war, presidential elections, or any other issue except Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and what that meant to the Jews they were contacting.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">This plan must have worked, look how the gospel has spread over these two thousand years. But wait a minute, the work is not done yet. We must work until He comes. We must today go out and follow the plan and preach Jesus to all people.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;">In fact, according to <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%203:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">2 Peter 3:12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, we can hasten the coming of the Lord as we win people to Jesus Christ. The only reason the Rapture has not happened is that the Lord wants all to come to Him to be saved, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Peter%203:9;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">2 Peter 3:9</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. We must work the work that is dear to the heart of God, winning people to Jesus Christ for salvation.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px;"><b><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me Lord, to be focused on the job of winning people to You and doing it in the way that You said, one by one.</span></span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-41710857026106113222023-12-25T23:40:00.001-05:002023-12-25T23:40:06.013-05:00Acts 4:11<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.</span></p><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:1-20;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 4:1-20</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />The book of Acts is not a book of doctrine but instead a record of the events of the "first century church". <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> records the beginning of the "church" when on the "Day of Pentecost" those who believed were "added to the church", those whose belief led them to salvation in Jesus Christ.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">As we come to <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 4</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> we see a detailed account of the first persecution to come upon the church. This persecution would come from the people in Jerusalem, the priest, the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">It would be focused on Peter and John, two of the Lord's close disciples, who had healed a forty year old lame man as they went up to the Temple to pray.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The "big wheels" at the Temple, the High Priest and those of the kindred of the High Priest, these Temple leaders wanted to know how Peter and John had healed this "lame man".<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Notice, here in <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 4</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> the response to the official question of the healing. Peter, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:8;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 8</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, had been filled with the Holy Spirit and that allowed him to develop into a man who was not only "inspirited" but also "innocent", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:10;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 10</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Peter told the Temple leadership it was not him that healed the man, but Jesus, the one who they had crucified and who God raised from the dead, that's how the man was healed.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Not only were these two disciples "inspirited" and "innocent", of self-glory, but they were "ignorant" as well. <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Verse 13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> describes the two disciples as "unlearned and ignorant men". However, they also recognized that Peter and John had "been with Jesus", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The Temple leadership, fearing that the fame of these men might spread, told Peter and John not to preach in the name of Jesus anymore.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Now, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:20;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 20</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, I love this verse. Peter said to the High Priest and his kindred that they "could not but speak" the things which they had seen and heard, they were "spiritual can't-help-its".<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Peter and John took "opposition" and through the "omnipotence" of God turned "opposition" into "opportunity" to preach the gospel when they had been told not to preach about Jesus Christ.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">There is some great practical truth in our passage for today. There is also a prophetic significance in this account as well. Peter told the Temple leadership that Jesus was the "cornerstone", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">This is the "cornerstone" as foretold by the Psalmist, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20118:22;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Psalm 118:22</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> ; by the prophet, Isaiah, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%208:14;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Isaiah 8:14</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> and <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%2028:16;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">28:16</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>; and the apostle, Peter, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Peter%202:6-8;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">I Peter 2:6-8</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Jesus is the "cornerstone" of our faith and has been the "stone of stumbling" for the Jewish people and some Gentiles, both of which have not been saved.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Jesus will continue to be the "stone of stumbling" until He returns to the Earth to set up His eternal, earthly Kingdom.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Help me to be "a spiritual can't-help-it" and speak the things I've seen and heard to the lost, for their salvation.</span></span></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-66312155714393895942023-12-18T21:55:00.001-05:002023-12-18T21:55:15.418-05:00Acts 3:21<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.</span></p><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203:12-26;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 3:12-26</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br />This extended devotional reading for today is the record of Peter's second sermon given after the Lord had gone back to heaven. This sermon has great prophetic significance and it is important for each of us to realize what the sermon is saying to the Jews and thus to the church as well.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">This sermon, by the way, is an excellent proof text that the Lord has not finished with the Jewish people. He has a program for the Jews that will play out in the last days. This is a great argument against "replacement theology" which states that the Church, the body of Christ, has replaced the Jews in God's program for today.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Peter's sermon is given to the Jews, "ye men of Israel", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203:12;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 12</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. Peter tells the Jews that God has given His Son as the fulfillment of promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and they had killed the "Prince of Life" but God had raised Him from the dead, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203:13-15;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 13-15</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Peter tells the men of Israel that Jesus, because of His death, burial, and resurrection, was indeed the long-awaited for Messiah and Savior of the world.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">God the Father sent His Son to die and fulfill all Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. He also stated that Jesus would return to the heavenlies for a period of time before He would "fulfill all things which God had spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began," <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%203:21;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 21</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">To fulfill all promises or prophecies given by God to the Jews would be a part of the end time scenario that would unfold, leading up to and, at the return of Jesus Christ back to the earth. The Lord has given four covenants to the Jews that must, and will be fulfilled at that time.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The four covenants include the "Abrahamic Covenant", a promise that there would be a Jewish nation with a piece of real estate that would belong to them forever, <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012,15;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Genesis 12 and 15</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. The "Land Covenant", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2030;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Deuteronomy 30</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, would guarantee land in the Middle East, 10 times the amount of land that the Jews now have in their possession.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The "Davidic Covenant", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Samuel%207;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">II Samuel 7</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, is God's promise of a king on a throne in a temple in Jerusalem, forever. The King of that kingdom who will be seated on the throne will be Jesus Christ in an earthly kingdom yet to come.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The last covenant to be fulfilled is the "New Covenant", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2031:31;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Jeremiah 31:31</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b> that is given to the Jewish people. It will be a forever covenant and will include all of the other covenants, as the Jewish people become His people and He becomes their God.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">These covenants must be fulfilled; therefore, God does have a plan and program for the Jewish people that is in the process of being played out in our world today.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">It is because He keeps these covenants, these promises to the Jews, that we can trust the Lord to keep His promise to us - His promise of eternal life.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">However, before any of the end time prophecies that pertain to the Jewish people can be fulfilled the Rapture of the Christians must take place. With all the prophecies for the Jews at the point of being fulfilled, the Rapture must be close, perhaps today.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you, Lord, for being a covenant-keeping God and giving me the proof of that truth in the Jewish people.</span></span></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2770499950243057843.post-45310416020032796352023-12-16T12:12:00.003-05:002023-12-16T12:12:53.722-05:00Acts 2:22<div class="art-postcontent" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><p style="margin: 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-weight: bold;">Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know</span></p><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div style="margin: 0px;">For further study - <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:1-24;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Acts 2:1-24</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b><br /></b></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b><br /></b>As we approach a very controversial passage of scripture for our devotional reading today I would like to share several thoughts with you that may help each of us to understand better what actually did happen on that "Day of Pentecost" almost 2,000 years ago.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">"Pentecost" is one of the seven Jewish feast days that God gave the Jewish people, the last of the four spring feasts. It was the day that the promise of Jesus was fulfilled as He said it would be, the Holy Spirit would come to the new converts of Christ, those who would be called Christian,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016:7-13;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">John 16:7-13</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>.</b><br /><br />I would like for you to think about several thoughts I have gleaned in my study of this portion of scripture. On this particular "Day of Pentecost" there were Jews from "every nation under heaven",<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:5;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 5</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, in Jerusalem.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Pentecost was a "pilgrim feast day" and the Jews were required to come to Jerusalem to observe the "feast". This meant that all twelve tribes were in Jerusalem, no "ten lost tribes" were missing.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Also, please notice that on Pentecost there was no such thing as people speaking in "unknown tongues or languages". The passage gives us a list of all the languages spoken that day,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:6-11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 6-11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b><b>.</b><br /><br />By the way, notice what they were speaking in the languages of the peoples gathered there that day,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:11;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 11</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, "the wonderful works of God". That phrase is interpreted in<b> </b><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:22-24;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">verses 22-24</a> </span></span>where Peter, the preacher on the "Day of Pentecost", gave the Jews gathered in Jerusalem, the "gospel", the death of Jesus Christ,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:23;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 23</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and the resurrection,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:24;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 24</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">On this day "about 3,000 souls",<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:41;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 41</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, were saved. There is one more controversial item to deal with, Peter's reference to the Prophet Joel's prophecy, found in<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%202:29-32;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Joel 2:29-32</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">I want you to know that whatever Peter was saying, he was not saying that Joel's prophecy was being fulfilled that day. It's interesting to note that nowhere in Joel's prophecy does it call for "speaking in tongues".<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">It does, however, call for "marvelous signs in the heavens" to happen,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:19-20;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 19-20</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, and none of those things happened that day. What did happen, as Joel said, was that those "who called upon the name of the Lord",<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:21;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 21</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, did get saved.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">One other thought about Joel's prophecy,<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:15-21;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verses 15-21</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, it could not have been fulfilled on that "Day of Pentecost" because the ancient Jewish prophet Joel said that this prophecy would be fulfilled during the "Day of the Lord".<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">That period, "The Day of the Lord", does not begin until after the Rapture of the Church and takes place during the lead-up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, during the Tribulation Period. That's what Joel's prophecy is describing in<b> </b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joel%202;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">Joel 2</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>, "the Day of the Lord", this is a prophecy yet to be fulfilled. (Please see my audio series on "Joel".)<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">The "Day of Pentecost" was a great day for me as a Gentile, it marked the beginning of the "Church Period", <b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><b><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:47;&version=9;" rel="nofollow" style="color: #757575; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #62646a;">verse 47</span></a></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b></b>. From that day, until the Rapture, both Gentiles and Jews who come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are part of the "body of Christ", the Church, His bride.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"></div><div style="margin: 0px;">It is this "bride", the Church, which Jesus will shout for to join Him in the heavens at the Rapture of the Church. There is no prophecy that must be fulfilled before the Rapture. All prophecy yet to be fulfilled will be fulfilled after the Rapture. The Rapture could happen today.<b><br /><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">PRAYER THOUGHT: <span style="font-style: italic;">Thank you Lord for that special group, the Church, of which I am a part and whom You will call to be with You in heaven at the Rapture of the Church, which could happen today.</span></span></b></div></div><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p><div class="cleared" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; border: medium; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); clear: both; color: black; float: none; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com