God Really Does Use All Things For Good

Acts 8:3-8 -  Paul was like a wild man, going everywhere to devastate the believers, even entering private homes and dragging out men and women alike and jailing them. But the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus!  Philip, for instance, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about Christ. Crowds listened intently to what he had to say because of the miracles he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed,  so there was much joy in that city!

 

Stephen had been stoned for preaching….and Paul was capitalizing on his stoning by dragging family after family that professed Christ out of their homes and jailing them. Some were released after a time…others were beaten severely…and others died for their belief. The threat of jail or worse was too much for some and they fled to the surrounding areas to escape the dangers…but they never stopped preaching the gospel that made them run.

 

It is an amazing reminder that God uses all seemingly bad situations to His good and glory. Stephen’s death…brutal and horrible as may have been…expanded the early church beyond what could have happened if all those believers had stayed in one place. God used Stephen’s willingness to die for His Lord to spread the gospel…even through believers that were so scared they dared not stay where persecution was taking place.

 

What an amazing promise and truth of God that He can use me even when I am scared and going through tough times.  I just have to remember that when fear enters my heart…to speak God’s word over it…so He can use me despite my fear and weakness. I have read the rest of the story…and can’t help but think of how God is going to turn even the one who did most of the persecution around.  For Paul….Saul’s new name in Christ… wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:10… That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that the things that look the darkest to me...may be used by you to bring about good. Forgive me for the times that I see only bad in the dark moments. As the old hymn says…. Open my eyes so I may see glimpse of truth thou has for me… Open my eyes…illumine me   ….Spirit Divine. Amen.

Power Unlimited....If You Ask

Acts 7:51 – 54 -  Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost:  as your fathers did, so do ye.   Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?  and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One;  of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

 

Stephen had been released from jail… brought before the council of religious leaders and given an opportunity to speak to the charges against him.  His speech was more of a sermon that summarized the history of the Jewish nation.  He did not defend himself…but instead used his time to bring attention to the truth of what Jesus had to offer these leaders who just could not let go of the old…and believe in the new life that Jesus could give them.

 

His words were received by such hardened hearts ..ones that only saw truth as something that fit into the shape they decided was truth…that Stephen was taken from the room by an angry mob that immediately stoned him to death.  Stone after stone…thrown with anger and malice… battered his body till he breathed no more.

 

What is so amazing to me about this story is that Stephen drew so much power and strength from the Holy Spirit that he mimicked the character of Jesus as he gave up His Spirit to God…even praying that God forgive these people who just could not see the truth of what they were doing. He refused to return their anger with his own…fully accepting what was happening to him as the will of the father…trusting that this act of man would somehow glorify God...whom he had chosen to serve.

 

I admit that I have a hard time understanding this complete trust in God.  I want to be strong enough to be so subservient…. but know in my heart I have a long way to go before I could even come close to this kind of dedication and trust in God. One key I learned from Stephen….is to stay full of the Holy Spirit that God gives us…then remember to use it evry time I am faced with a situation that tests my faith. I know that is right because Jesus taught him how to do this…proving that all men have the same power Christ had to overcome any form of darkness.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I have power unlimited to overcome the trials and darkness you allow in my life.  Forgive me for the times that I have let the world trick me in to returning anger for anger….hate for hate…bitterness for bitterness…or unforgiveness for false witness against me.  Help me to learn to keep the Holy Spirit so full in my heart tat I always depend on it instead of myself to conquer and overcome what the world throws at my faith.  Amen.

 

Fill Up Your Heart With The Holy Spirit.

Acts 6:13-15 -  The lying witnesses testified again that Stephen was constantly speaking against the Temple and against the laws of Moses. They declared, “We have heard him say that this fellow Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and throw out all of Moses’ laws.”  At this point everyone in the Council chamber saw Stephen’s face become as radiant as an angel’s!

 

Stephen arose quickly as a great man of faith and used the power of the Holy Spirit to preach and do great miracles.  He was elected at first as one of the elected to take care of the widows…but let God do so much more with him than what man decided he was capable of.

 

One of the character traits that Stephen picked up on early in his Christian walk was humility. He was such a powerful link to the growth of the early Christian church that the religious leaders got a Jewish cult named the Freedmen to lie about his teachings in their council. He was accused of teaching the opposite of what the Jews believed….but he sat silently in the court…not making a huge deal of the accusations they brought bout him.  Maybe it wasn't so much humility as it was his ability to ask God to keep him full of the Holy Spirit at all times.

 

God was so pleased with Stephen that He allowed the essence of God to manifest in Stephen’s face while he sat before the court. They accused him of lies…but Stephen’s face shone as if he were an angel.  They brought him before the court with the intent to harm him…to stop his preaching….but God allowed the power Stephen had learned to use from the Holy Spirit to keep him calm….to allow God to use what man meant for harm to glorify the Father.

 

I admit that I need to learn to use the power of the Holy Spirit to help me in all kinds of situations….to show that I trust God no matter what happens in my life that seems to be harming me at the time. I am better…I will testify that since I have been using God’s power to write this blog each morning…my temper has quietened…I have more peace than I ever did in tough situations…but I have not reached Stephen’s level. I needed this great reminder that God has my back …if I am doing what He called me to do.  He can take all forms of hurt and keep me so calm and focused on God in that moment of hurt that my face can shine with the love God. 

 

Father….thank you for the reminder that you can give me all the power I need to do anything you ask me to do.  Forgive me for the times that I have lost control…or limited what you can do through me because I have forgotten to ask for the Holy Spirit to fill me with your power. Help me to stay so focused on you that I remember to always call on you to help me in all things. Amen.

Loving God Is A Priviledge

Acts 5:38-42 - 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.    And to him they agreed:  and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.    And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.  

 

Peter and John had been arrested again ….for continuing to preach the gospel of Christ. An angel unlocked their doors that night and told them to go to the public square and preach some more. Large crowds gathered to hear them…or to beg them for healing.  The power of the Holy Spirit was so strong in Peter that some who just passed through his shadow were healed. God revealed to the frightened captain where they were when it was time for them to appear before the council…with the intention of having them killed. But God gave one of the Pharisees the courage to speak these wise words that Luke recorded ….to leave them alone and let time tell if they were truly of God.

 

The two were beaten and released…counting it a privilege to be persecuted for Christ’s sake. Then continued to preach and teach and heal…in spite of the strict warning from the religious leaders to stop.  They never backed down….they used every opportunity to teach something about God’s love. Every day they woke and used the power of the Holy Spirit to keep them strong…courageous…connected completely to God and His purpose for their lives.

 

What a great reminder to wake every morning and thank God for the privilege of loving Him. It is an honor to have been chosen to experience His love…I should count every opportunity to show His love to others that I can. His love was not meant to keep me protected in bubble wrap ….keeping me from ever experiencing adversity.  His love was meant for me to learn to walk through that adversity holding His hand…so others can see what it can do to give them life.

 

I am guilty of making it more about me that Him most days.  I wake and thank Him for another day…but I sure don’t thank Him for the possible bad that will happen that day.  I am learning to give thanks for the past trials and sufferings that He has allowed in my life. It is a very hard thing to do…but it releases a new kind of love and respect for who God is when you do it. It is one thing to thank God for the things that I perceive to be wonderful…the blessings that are obvious.  It is entirely another thing to thank God for the things we perceive to be bad. As Laura Story’s great song asks…What if your blessings come in teardrops? I have found that those teardrops open your heart to a whole new level of understanding of God’s mercy.

 

Father…thank you for reminding me that it is a privilege to love you. Forgive me for all the times that I have let my selfishness keep me from thanking you for what I perceive to be a bad thing. Help me to thank you in all things… so you can deepen my love for you and help power me like you did Peter and John to do your work. Amen.

Love The Person...AND...Take A Stand Against The Sin

Acts 4:16-20 - Saying, What shall we do to these men?  for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem;  and we cannot deny it.   But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.   And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.   For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

 

Peter and John had healed a man lame from birth….and used the miracle to show the power of the Holy Spirit.  They preached with a boldness that nothing could touch…and ended up in jail when the religious leaders saw the crowd they drew. Peter had made a lot of mistakes…but the Holy Spirit gave him power after Jesus returned to Heaven to stand against any power that satan threw at him. He internalized the power that God sent him through the Holy Spirit and used it to never back down again.

 

What a great reminder to never live in our past.  We can make all the mistakes in the world…but when we let Jesus into our heart…those mistakes can be erased.  And when we tap into the power that the Holy Spirit can give us…we can become bold… courageous apostles that are not afraid to take a stand for the truth of Christ.  God gives us the power to claim victory over any hold satan eve had on our heart and life.  The Holy Spirit gives us the power to overcome any adversity that satan means to destroy our connection with God.

 

Satan will lie to you and trick you into believing that you have no power over the world. But the truth is that God will allow you to overcome anything that weakens your ability to love and follow Him.  I admit that it is hard to take a stance in this world that seems to be passing law after law that is clearly contrary to what the Bible teaches.  I also admit that there is a very fine line between taking a stance against something and still loving the people who have been tricked into following the lies.  I struggle daily with that fine line ….of learning to love the people who need Christ and finding a way to stand up for the truth that the Bible left us to live by.  We are called to love everyone in the world…but not be of the world.

 

Father thank you for the reminder to let you be in me so that I can be exactly what you need be to the world you are trying to save. Forgive me for the times that I never tap into your power….or let the world control my choices.  Help me to be bold and courageous like Peter and John…because they let you fill them with power from the Holy Spirit. Give me an ability to love the person who has been tricked into sin…so that I can let God use me to reveal the truth. Amen.

Don't Judge...Just Glorify God

Acts 3:2-6 -  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;   Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.    And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.    And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.    Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none;  but such as I have give I thee:  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  

 

Peter and John had gone to the Temple for the afternoon prayer time.  They encountered a man lame from birth who laid by the most used gate of the Temple to beg each day. He asked them for what he asked everyone else that entered that gate…an alm…his only means of support in life.

 

Little did he know that his life was about to be changed forever by the two disciples that saw it as an opportunity to glorify God. He asked for the smallest thing…but got a complete healing …the ability to walk where no ability had ever been before. Peter and John took that moment to ask in Jesus’ name for a mighty miracle….giving the man way more than a simple piece of money to support him.

 

It sure expands my thoughts about the many beggars I see from time to time.  I can remember the signs they held…. need a ride….haven’t eaten for a week….need gas to get back home….stranded with my family and need diapers. Sure I stopped when I felt led and did what I could…I have also passed by many that I let my heart think was bogus….but I have never been so bold as Peter and John…asking in Jesus name for Him to provide what they needed.  I simply shoved the thing I bought….or the money I got out of my purse…or followed them to the gas station to fill up their tank…then left them with a simple blessing.

 

I needed the reminder that it is not my place to judge or wonder who really needs what they are asking for.  It is my responsibility to bring them as much of God’s love as I can…not stopping with the obvious giving of what they asked for. God has so much more than I have ever imagined….I limit Him so many times because I don’t think more like Jesus….I don’t see the fullness of what God can do when we ask in Jesus name.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you are capable of anything.  Forgive me for the times that I have limited what I receive from you…and give less than I could to others.  Help me to stay so in touch with the presence of the Holy Spirit that I remember to pray in your name for what I and others need from you. Amen.

Tap Into The Power Of The Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1-4 -  Seven weeks had gone by since Jesus’ death and resurrection, and the Day of Pentecost had now arrived. As the believers met together that day,  suddenly there was a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in languages they didn’t know, for the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

 

The followers had waited 7 weeks.  They met with each other to gain strength….pray for guidance and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. It came when they least expected it….. in a dramatic display of sound and visual effects.  A mighty roar…like a great windstorm…then flames settled on their heads that looked to all to be in the shape of a tongue.  Then they all started speaking in languages they did not know as the Holy Spirit filled them all with the power of God.

 

It had a great purpose.  Many Jews from many nations had come to the Festival of Weeks. The apostles only knew Greek and Hebrew…and possibly Aramaic.  But as the Holy Spirit filled them they spoke in the languages of all that had assembled there.  Each person in attendance heard the gospel in the clearest form of his/her language.

 

For some reason…God allowed me to miss a connecting flight on my way home from CA…so I have some layover time in Charlotte NC this morning.  As I wait for a possible standby seat on the earliest flight out…I can hear the roar of the engines of the planes outside the gate where I wait. There are several others around me…of different nationalities around me as a wait…so I can hear them all converse in their native languages. The sun is shining bright through the window where I sit…but that is as close to the scene as I can get in this moment.

 

I am reminded that our world still needs the power the Holy Spirit can give us.  I know that I am depending on it right now to stay calm and not worry about the possibility that  might be hanging out in the airport till 10:00pm tonight….(its only 8:00 am right now). I know my friend who just texted me for prayer needs a huge dose of Holy Spirit to help her stay calm as she deals with some pretty serious health issues that her mom is going through. And I am sure that someone in this airport needs some Holy Spirit for something….possibly something that God will use me to help with as I wait.

 

The Holy Spirit is not limited to giving us new languages to speak in.  It gives us strength…. courage…. boldness….confidence…..self-control…insight….new abilities….authority….just to name a few powers it gives to believers. I am guilty of not remembering to ask God to fill me daily with its power…so I can be the most effective worker for him.  I can just imagine what I could do for him if I tapped into the Holy Spirit’s power more each day.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that you gave us a powerful tool to help us be the best that we can be.  Forgive me for the times that I forget to call on it for help and do things in my own power.  Help me to be more aware of my need to depend on your power…and let you guide me as you did these great new Christians that were the first to experience the power the Holy Spirit has to help us live and do your work.  Amen.