Acts 17:24-28

(Acts 17:24-28) [Paul said,] "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring."

 

Acts 15:18: There are no Surprises for God

 

Acts 15:18: There are no Surprises for God

Acts 15:18 says, "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world."  I see that to mean that God is aware of all that has and will happen. There are no surprises for Him. He has it all under control.  This includes your life and mine.  

God knows all my works, good and bad.  But I also want to focus on the fact that God knows my story past, present, and future.  Through divine dreams, God sometimes gives me a hint of what may happen, but usually I just have to live each day one second at a time.  However, it gives me great peace that God knows what will happen in the next second and the next long before they occur.  I know He is already holding my hand before the hard times hit and is also cheering me on for even small successes.  He knows when I will struggle physically and spiritually, and He goes before me to prepare my heart and soul to be ready to face the fears and doubts with hope and grace.  He even sees how much I love Him and want to bring His name glory.  

I praise God I serve One who holds all my days in the palms of His hands.  I may change (hopefully for the better), but God is never-changing.  His love endures and His love for me will never fade.

My steps are numbered and God has known me from mt mother's womb (see Psalm 139).  Thank you God for choosing me and directing my paths! 

Acts 14:22

 

I know I have said it before, but once again, I apologize for the poor quality of some of these photos.  No matter how many times I take them in all different kinds of light, they still look dark and blurry.  The next time we have a sunny day outside (which still may be awhile) I will try taking some photos outside in natural light.

(Acts 14:22) Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Acts 14:15

 (Acts 14:15) [Paul said,] "We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein."

Acts 14:3

 

(Acts 14:3) Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Acts 10:9-17 & 34-36: Lord of All

 

Acts 10:9-17 & 34-36: Lord of All

Acts 10:34-36 says so much.  It shows that God does not favor one race over another.  "He is Lord of all."  It shows us also that we are His children when we "feareth him, and worketh righteousness."  Again, Peter reminds us that we are to fear the Lord and show Him reverence.  And, yes, we must work to be righteous.  Then we can be called God's children if we follow the ways of holy living and live a life of fear and awe of God.

A few verses before these scriptures (Acts 10:9-17), Peter has a vision of God offering him different kinds of animals to eat.  As a Jew, Peter refused to eat anything he considered "unclean."  God tells Peter, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common." 

Although the dietary laws are no longer relevant for today (see Matthew 15:10-11 & 16-18), in this case, God was not referring to animals, but to people.  He was telling Peter to quit being a spiritual bigot and to preach to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews.  God reminded Peter that He loves all souls and wants everyone to have an opportunity to hear the gospel message and be saved.

Peter humbly listened and obeyed God.  It is safe to say this message stayed with him the rest of his days for he later writes in 2 Peter 3:9 that "The Lord is... longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance."  

May we also see receive this message from God and never refuse to teach God's Truths to anyone.

(Acts 10:9-17) On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of four-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

And there came a voice to him, "Rise, Peter; kill, and eat."

But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."

And the voice spake unto him again the second time, "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

(Acts 10:34-35) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)."

Acts 10:34-44

 (Acts 10:34-36) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said," Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)."

"That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him."

"And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with Him after he rose from the dead."

"And He commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."

While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Acts 9:31 & 10:2: What does it mean to fear the Lord?

 

Acts 9:31 & 10:2: What does it mean to fear the Lord?

Acts 9:31 refers to the disciples that were teaching as "walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost."

Again, in Acts 10:2 it refers to a man named Cornelius as being "a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house."  

What does it mean to fear the Lord?

A popular spiritual leader once posted that the fear of the Lord "means having a devoted and loving heart toward Him." Although this is true, according to the Bible, this is an over-simplified interpretation. Yes, we should absolutely love the Lord. it is why we became Christians and what drives our faith.  When we love the Holy Trinity and realize how kind, gracious, and forging God is, "the goodness of God leadeth [us] to repentance" (Romans 2:4). Which of course leads to, 2 Corinthians 7:10 that reminds us, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

However, fearing the Lord is not simply loving God. It is acknowledging that He holds our eternal fates in His hands.  Hebrews 10:30-31 should be the basis for all decisions we make. 

The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:30-31 

Fearing the Lord means respecting His rules and realizing His love for us is why He put those rules in place to keep us safe, not because He is a cruel bully.  We are not to fear Him as an abusive family member, but because He is the only one who will make the decision on whether or not we will go to Heaven or Hell.  He wishes that none would ever go to Hell ([God] is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9) which is why He requires us to do as He (not man) commands.

When we think of all our choices as being observed by a Holy God, we should be in awe and fear.  It should make us think twice before we pick up a piece of literature or watch a program full of witchcraft, violence, sexual perversions, and outright mock God and all the Bible stands for.   

One of my favorite late preachers, Leonard Ravenhill used to put it this way (I am paraphrasing.), "When we stand before God on judgement day we won't simply say, 'Hey, buddy, thanks for the cross,' we will bow on our faces in fear and trembling."  No matter how defiantly you choose to live your life, or arrogantly claim you don't need God, if you truly picture what Heaven will be like the moment you arrive (I am not speaking of all eternity full of bliss and joy, but your initial encounter with God) you will realize it will be very frightening as you relive all the sins you refused to repent of and all the rules you intentionally broke.  Because God is unfathomably gracious and merciful, He will not remember those sins you asked His forgiveness for (notice how David uses the same theme of fearing the Lord):

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. Psalm 103:11-13

At some point you have probably heard or read from the book of Proverbs that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs makes it clear that those who refuse to fear God and hate "wisdom and instruction" are "fools" (Proverbs 1:7).  It goes on to say in Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward [not willing to yield or comply with what is required of God] mouth, do I hate. " That one verse alone sums up all I am trying to say.    

Proverbs also goes on to describe the fear of the Lord as finding "the knowledge of God" (2:5), "the knowledge of... holy understanding" (9:10), "a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death" (14:27). "tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil"(19:23).  It also reminds us that we should not "envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long" (23:17). 

God is very loving, gracious, merciful, and forgiving. "We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19). Yes, we can have a close walk and friendship with God, but we must never treat God as casual as a human friend but respect Him as our Creator and Judge.

Next time you think of God as a casual buddy, please consider these verses:

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. Revelation 20:12-13

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.  II Timothy 4:4

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: I Peter 1:14-17

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:7-8

Acts 5:27-32

 

(Acts 5:27-32) And when they [the prison officers] had brought them [the apostles], they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, "Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?..."

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, "We ought to obey God rather than men."

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."

Acts 2:41-47 & 4:32-35: In One Accord

Acts 2:45 & 4:32-37: In One Accord

Several times during the book of Acts, it is mentioned that the Christians living in one community were all in "one accord," which in this case basically means they were like-minded in spiritual matters.  They worshiped the one true God and one true gospel of Jesus Christ and were not ripped apart by false teachings.  It also mentions several times that many of them sold their possessions and divided the money among the group.  No one was in need because they shared with one another and looked out for one another.

Today's Christians are at each other's throats over denominational, theological, and political divisions.  Seldom can they agree to disagree but insult and ostracize family and friends. They make fun of each other when beliefs differ and cannot break bread in one accord without hurt feelings.  If we could all live by what the Bible says rather than by what man inaccurately teaches, and instead of trying to make our own false religions to fit unbiblical lifestyles, we could find true harmony as they had among the believers in Peter's community.

I believe there will one day soon be a time when Christians of many different backgrounds will be forced to live together in hiding during the Tribulation.  We will band together in secret places and live in small and large communities for protection.  The Truths of God's scriptures will be revealed, and false religions will be exposed to those who are willing to read and obey the True gospel of Jesus Christ.  We will take care of one another as God's children.  The hard times will bring us all together in one accord, and we will learn to again to love and support one another the way God intended Christians to live.

(Acts 2:41-47) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

(Acts 4:31-37) And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.