Today's scriptures told the story of Simon,
1. Simon was a man that had been practicing magic in the city where he lived.
2. Simon heard Phillip, a disciple of Jesus preaching about God's kingdom and the name of Jesus,
3. Simon was convicted and repented.
4. Simon stayed by Phillip's side going everywhere he went.
5. Peter and John came to the town where Phillip was preaching.
6. The baptism of the Holy Spirit fell on the ones that Peter and John placed hands on and filled each of them.
7. Simon saw how the Holy Spirit was released and he wanted the ability and offered to pay Peter and John to give him the ability "so that I also can lay my hands on everyone to receive the Holy Spirit.”.
8. Peter rebuked Simon!
9. Peter told Simon that he was going to hell along with his money!
10. Peter told Simon that he would never be part of their ministry because his heart was wrong...but that if he prayed he might be forgiven.
In this scripture I have been convicted that we have elevated people and their feelings above God's holiness, we are more concerned in offending a person than we are of protecting the honor of our Saviour! I cannot imagine any Christian of today saying the things to Simon that Peter said! Yet Peter walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter's very shadow was a healing power!
Lord I do pray that You will forgive my shortcomings, forgive me when I have not stood firm for Your honor! Forgive me when my heart has been wrong and not right with You! Please Holy Spirit come and create a right, steadfast spirit and a clean, pure heart in me! Help me to have understanding and wisdom. Give me courage to walk how You would have me walk, to speak what You would have me to say! I love You Lord, thank You for loving me! In Jesus' name~
Acts 8:9-24 Now, there was a man who lived there who was steeped in sorcery. For some time he had astounded the people of Samaria with his magic, boasting to be someone great.Everyone, from the least to the greatest among them, was dazzled by his sorcery, saying, “This man is the greatest wizard of all! The divine power of God walks among us!” For many years everyone was in awe of him because of his astonishing displays of the magic arts.
But as Philip preached the wonderful news of God’s kingdom realm, and the name of Jesus the Anointed One, many believed his message and were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon believed and was baptized! Wherever Philip went, Simon was right by his side, astounded by all the miracles, signs, and enormous displays of power that he witnessed.
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had accepted God’s message of life, they sent Peter and John to pray over them so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. For they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and were yet to have the Holy Spirit fall upon them. As soon as Peter and John arrived, they laid their hands on the Samaritan believers, one after another, and the Holy Spirit fell and filled each one of them!
When Simon saw how the Holy Spirit was released through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he approached them and offered them money, saying, “I want this power too. I’m willing to pay you for the anointing that you have, so that I also can lay my hands on everyone to receive the Holy Spirit.”
Peter rebuked him and said, “Your money will go with you to destruction! How could you even think that you could purchase God’s supernatural gift with money? You will never have this gift or take part in this ministry, for your heart is not right with God. Repent this moment for allowing such wickedness to fill you. Plead with the Lord that perhaps he would forgive you the treachery of your heart. For I discern that jealous envy has poisoned you and binds you as a captive to sin.”
Simon begged, “Peter, please pray to God for me. Plead with him so that nothing you just said over me may come to pass!”
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thursday, March 15, 2018
Wisdom and Hope
We are all always growing older, right? With age there is always change, some good, some not what we would seek.
An older woman friend of mine and I were talking about this subject and she shared how each decade of life brings changes to our bodies. Being younger and maybe not quite as mature as she, I said: "it must be hard to go through your body breaking down".
My friend stopped for a moment as if she were listening to an inner voice and then spoke words of great wisdom that I have not yet forgotten.
To my youth orientated statement about bodies breaking down she shared what the inner voice had shared with her, '"You are a child of God. Life is not about learning to deal with your body breaking down, it is about recognizing each new change as an ingredient to create the "Masterpiece" that you are to become"'.
As we go through the changes of our bodies aging there are new challenges and we do slow down, but we are not to see it as a bad thing, but a good thing! If our bodies didn't slow down we would not be able to be more still to hear, think, see and understand the life that we are rushing through in our younger years.
Instead of how sad that we slow down it would be truly sad if we continued to rush through life with the energy of a two-year-old, we would never gain understanding! Or if we continued in the passion of a 16-year-old we would not develop patience, many good things come with the slowing down of maturity.
As our bodies change we grapple with new challenges, we master them and then face the next change until we become a Masterpiece of understanding, patience, perseverance, proven character, and hope.
Don't pursue the aging process but neither discount it or criticize it, it has a purpose....to refine us and to bring us to hope!
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NASB
I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ! Philippians 1:6 TPT
An older woman friend of mine and I were talking about this subject and she shared how each decade of life brings changes to our bodies. Being younger and maybe not quite as mature as she, I said: "it must be hard to go through your body breaking down".
My friend stopped for a moment as if she were listening to an inner voice and then spoke words of great wisdom that I have not yet forgotten.
To my youth orientated statement about bodies breaking down she shared what the inner voice had shared with her, '"You are a child of God. Life is not about learning to deal with your body breaking down, it is about recognizing each new change as an ingredient to create the "Masterpiece" that you are to become"'.
As we go through the changes of our bodies aging there are new challenges and we do slow down, but we are not to see it as a bad thing, but a good thing! If our bodies didn't slow down we would not be able to be more still to hear, think, see and understand the life that we are rushing through in our younger years.
Instead of how sad that we slow down it would be truly sad if we continued to rush through life with the energy of a two-year-old, we would never gain understanding! Or if we continued in the passion of a 16-year-old we would not develop patience, many good things come with the slowing down of maturity.
As our bodies change we grapple with new challenges, we master them and then face the next change until we become a Masterpiece of understanding, patience, perseverance, proven character, and hope.
Don't pursue the aging process but neither discount it or criticize it, it has a purpose....to refine us and to bring us to hope!
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5 NASB
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Bad News, Good News
Consider this~
Jesus warned Peter that the enemy had asked for permission to "sift" him.
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. ” Luke 22:31-32
Is it possible you will be sifted also? Or maybe you are being sifted?
Probably yes! You will be or have been! and probably will be again! I know for many Christians this sounds ridiculous or elementary, depending on which camp you're in, but when you are in the middle of a "sifting" it is difficult to see it as either one! "Siftings" do not feel ridiculous or elementary!
Now, as you are sifted or after you have been sifted what is the result going to be?
Are you going to be a pile of whining dust? or are you going to be submitted to the Lord's purpose? Will you glorify the Lord no matter what comes? Will you come through with your heart still set on the Lord's will?
Remember, even as Jesus told Peter(Simon) that He had prayed for him, He is praying for you also! He is standing in intercession for you now! You can know that the grace from Heaven is on you to go through the sifting! Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
Do not lose heart thinking that you are alone, or that you are the only one to be sifted, we all will be! Or that your sifting is worse than anyone else's....it is all difficult or it wouldn't be "sifting"!
I would like to encourage you with the understanding that as you go through "siftings" there is less of your old nature left each time! If you are like me and pray for more of the Lord and less of me....the sifting is a tool that brings that about! =)
What this comes down to is that we recognize that:
Jesus warned Peter that the enemy had asked for permission to "sift" him.
And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. ” Luke 22:31-32
Is it possible you will be sifted also? Or maybe you are being sifted?
Probably yes! You will be or have been! and probably will be again! I know for many Christians this sounds ridiculous or elementary, depending on which camp you're in, but when you are in the middle of a "sifting" it is difficult to see it as either one! "Siftings" do not feel ridiculous or elementary!
Now, as you are sifted or after you have been sifted what is the result going to be?
Are you going to be a pile of whining dust? or are you going to be submitted to the Lord's purpose? Will you glorify the Lord no matter what comes? Will you come through with your heart still set on the Lord's will?
Remember, even as Jesus told Peter(Simon) that He had prayed for him, He is praying for you also! He is standing in intercession for you now! You can know that the grace from Heaven is on you to go through the sifting! Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25
Do not lose heart thinking that you are alone, or that you are the only one to be sifted, we all will be! Or that your sifting is worse than anyone else's....it is all difficult or it wouldn't be "sifting"!
I would like to encourage you with the understanding that as you go through "siftings" there is less of your old nature left each time! If you are like me and pray for more of the Lord and less of me....the sifting is a tool that brings that about! =)
What this comes down to is that we recognize that:
- We will be sifted,
- We will survive the sifting,
- Try to go through it with the Lord's grace!
- If you keep your focus on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit you will grow spiritually stronger!
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
Twelve Thrones
This morning I was reading in Matthew 19 and it turned my mind to words that Jesus spoke about the Lord's disciples sitting on thrones in heaven.
In churches and among Christians you can hear talk about going to heaven and what will happen there. Recently I heard our song leader say that we will be singing all of the time. This is not quite what I have come to believe from the teaching and reading that I have heard, but I do have to admit that it is better than the image I had as a child of a boring existence of sitting on a cloud playing a harp!
Today I read that "you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" Matthew 19:28. (In trying to research this meaning, most say this was directed at only Jesus' original disciples, but I differ in my understanding of this. I believe if He said "who have followed Me" that I get to be included in this group too!) To me, this is saying that singing or sitting on clouds is not all that we will be doing in heaven!
What I really was trying to research was what the twelve thrones are? Instantly different ideas popped into my mind, I know that the Lord has told me that I walk in Holiness and that Lane walks in Love......are two of the thrones Holiness and Love?
In churches and among Christians you can hear talk about going to heaven and what will happen there. Recently I heard our song leader say that we will be singing all of the time. This is not quite what I have come to believe from the teaching and reading that I have heard, but I do have to admit that it is better than the image I had as a child of a boring existence of sitting on a cloud playing a harp!
Today I read that "you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel" Matthew 19:28. (In trying to research this meaning, most say this was directed at only Jesus' original disciples, but I differ in my understanding of this. I believe if He said "who have followed Me" that I get to be included in this group too!) To me, this is saying that singing or sitting on clouds is not all that we will be doing in heaven!
What I really was trying to research was what the twelve thrones are? Instantly different ideas popped into my mind, I know that the Lord has told me that I walk in Holiness and that Lane walks in Love......are two of the thrones Holiness and Love?
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Perfect Christian or Christian?
I used to have a poster by my desk at work, it said: "If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to prove it?". Have you ever considered what your Christian walk looks like to others?
This morning my "walk" is on my mind, I know I stumble, I fall and I make mistakes, maybe that makes my life look like I'm not a Christian, but actually what it shows is that I'm not a "Perfect Christian".
What I am is a person that has recognized that I am not perfect, I am a person who has heard the truth that there is Someone that was willing to pay for my imperfections and I have chosen to accept that payment to cover me because I was not able to make the payment myself.
When I allowed myself to be bailed out by Someone else it put me in a position of considering the other Person's opinions and desires for my life are more important than my own.
Choices I now make reflect what I do because I am a person that has been forgiven for a debt that I could not pay. I am in debt to the One who paid the price for me.
The choices I make may not be evidence to anyone other than myself, but I do hope that my life reflects that I am a Christian.... sometimes it is something that can't be seen by the world. We can do many works that make us look like we are something that we are not....we can have a head knowledge and not a heart knowledge....it takes more than just works and more than just knowledge.....but yes! I am washed clean and forgiven through Jesus' blood and now live as His! I am a Christian!
This morning my "walk" is on my mind, I know I stumble, I fall and I make mistakes, maybe that makes my life look like I'm not a Christian, but actually what it shows is that I'm not a "Perfect Christian".
What I am is a person that has recognized that I am not perfect, I am a person who has heard the truth that there is Someone that was willing to pay for my imperfections and I have chosen to accept that payment to cover me because I was not able to make the payment myself.
When I allowed myself to be bailed out by Someone else it put me in a position of considering the other Person's opinions and desires for my life are more important than my own.
Choices I now make reflect what I do because I am a person that has been forgiven for a debt that I could not pay. I am in debt to the One who paid the price for me.
The choices I make may not be evidence to anyone other than myself, but I do hope that my life reflects that I am a Christian.... sometimes it is something that can't be seen by the world. We can do many works that make us look like we are something that we are not....we can have a head knowledge and not a heart knowledge....it takes more than just works and more than just knowledge.....but yes! I am washed clean and forgiven through Jesus' blood and now live as His! I am a Christian!
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Called to Holiness
Is it possible that we have made an image of God in our thinking that is not accurate? Have we removed the "Holiness" from His image? Have we made Him such a loving God that He is willing to wipe away the call to holiness that He has put on us?
I hear so many people call on Him as if He is simply the father figure on an old TV show. Is He the strict but gentle loving father that chuckles over the antics of his wife and children~ I think not.
He is the Holy Creator of all things! He is the great I AM, the Ancient of Days, the Alpha and Omega. He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient! Who are we to recreate Him in our image!?
While He does love us immensely because we are covered by Jesus' precious blood, He knows our hearts better than we do and He has given us a path to walk, a narrow path.
He has more good plans for us than we can imagine but that does not remove the holiness and the purity we are called to, if we believe it does we are going to be sadly surprised.
As His Kingdom, we need to walk circumspectly, we need to constantly consider and inspect our hearts, our actions, words, thoughts. Acts 24:16 "In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men."
Yes, I know we walk in a new freedom, paid for by our Saviour, but we are instructed in Romans 12:2 "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
Remember, we're not to transform God into what is pleasing to us, we are to be transformed ourselves into what is pleasing to Him.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Who Pays When You Can't?
We know that Jesus came to pay for our sins, that is the beginning teaching that has brought us into a relationship with our Heavenly Father, but there was a time that Lane and I had this lesson shown to us in a different format.
Let me describe the lesson we learned. For a while, Lane worked as a server for a prominent United States restaurant chain. This job position made it easy for us to be able to transfer to another town when the Lord told us it was time to relocate. During this season the Lord provided our finances with the tips that the customers left on the table after their meals. (A side note here, yes, there are people whose next meal depends on how well you tip them after you have eaten your meal! As a Christian, you should consider being generous with your kindness and money to those who are serving you in all circumstances!)
During the winter part of this journey there was a snowstorm that paralyzed the city, businesses and schools were all closed. The city was doing it's best to dig the roadways out from under the covering of snow and ice but it took a week or so. Because a server at a restaurant lives by tips, and they are not able to get to get to work and the customers are not able to get to the restaurant there are no tips and therefore no money!
As soon as the roads became passable Lane was back at work. There still weren't many customers brave enough to go out to eat, so after missing days of no pay, there was still a shortage of tips. One evening we believed we were supposed to be at a church service across town, we ventured out even though we didn't have very much gasoline. While we were still in the praise service Kevin, a man that regularly attended there with us came to Lane and gave him an envelope of cash. He told Lane that the Lord had told him to give us the money for "our giving". Even though the money wasn't "on the tables" while Lane was working, the Lord still provided enough for us to be able to "give" back to Him! Isn't that amazing!? That is just like Jesus coming and paying the price for our sins when we weren't able to pay it ourselves! We don't know how much was in the envelope, we didn't open it, we told the Lord "Thank You!" and put the envelope in the offering. And if that wasn't enough, at the end of the service another man came and gave Lane a "cash handshake", and informed him that God had told him to buy us some gasoline! He apologized that he didn't have more, but he was obedient and it was enough that we had money to buy gasoline to get home and for Lane to go back to work. God is so Good!
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Let me describe the lesson we learned. For a while, Lane worked as a server for a prominent United States restaurant chain. This job position made it easy for us to be able to transfer to another town when the Lord told us it was time to relocate. During this season the Lord provided our finances with the tips that the customers left on the table after their meals. (A side note here, yes, there are people whose next meal depends on how well you tip them after you have eaten your meal! As a Christian, you should consider being generous with your kindness and money to those who are serving you in all circumstances!)
During the winter part of this journey there was a snowstorm that paralyzed the city, businesses and schools were all closed. The city was doing it's best to dig the roadways out from under the covering of snow and ice but it took a week or so. Because a server at a restaurant lives by tips, and they are not able to get to get to work and the customers are not able to get to the restaurant there are no tips and therefore no money!
As soon as the roads became passable Lane was back at work. There still weren't many customers brave enough to go out to eat, so after missing days of no pay, there was still a shortage of tips. One evening we believed we were supposed to be at a church service across town, we ventured out even though we didn't have very much gasoline. While we were still in the praise service Kevin, a man that regularly attended there with us came to Lane and gave him an envelope of cash. He told Lane that the Lord had told him to give us the money for "our giving". Even though the money wasn't "on the tables" while Lane was working, the Lord still provided enough for us to be able to "give" back to Him! Isn't that amazing!? That is just like Jesus coming and paying the price for our sins when we weren't able to pay it ourselves! We don't know how much was in the envelope, we didn't open it, we told the Lord "Thank You!" and put the envelope in the offering. And if that wasn't enough, at the end of the service another man came and gave Lane a "cash handshake", and informed him that God had told him to buy us some gasoline! He apologized that he didn't have more, but he was obedient and it was enough that we had money to buy gasoline to get home and for Lane to go back to work. God is so Good!
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)