The Day of Pentecost was past, the church (the body of Christ) was growing in numbers, and the apostles were preaching the gospel and healing the sick and afflicted in the name of Jesus Christ. But they were also facing much opposition from the same people who opposed Jesus Christ. Rulers in the temple arrested … Continue reading Speak the Words of Life
Christian persecution
When Others Revile You
Matthew 5:10-12 ESV “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they … Continue reading When Others Revile You
Called According to His Purpose
Convinced of the Holy Spirit In Acts 21, we read how Paul was convinced of the Holy Spirit that he should go to Jerusalem, even knowing that he may be imprisoned there or even die there for the name of the Lord Jesus. And Paul was arrested there, and he was bound with chains, and … Continue reading Called According to His Purpose
Let Come What May
I am reading this morning in Acts 21. To set the background for what follows, I will share a verse from Acts 19 and one from Acts 20: “Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, ‘After I have been there, I must … Continue reading Let Come What May
We Pray for Our Loved Ones
I am reading in Acts 17 (ESV). Paul was in Thessalonica at the Jewish synagogue reasoning with the Jews regarding Jesus Christ, their Messiah, telling them that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead. And some of the Jews were persuaded to believe in Jesus. But the Jews … Continue reading We Pray for Our Loved Ones
Walk It! Don’t Just Talk It!
2 Corinthians 5:11 ESV “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.” The Fear of the Lord Do we know what it means to fear the Lord? It means that we honor, value, esteem, revere, respect, worship and obey him. We are not hearers of the word only, but we are doers of … Continue reading Walk It! Don’t Just Talk It!
The State of The Church
Isaiah 62:1-3 ESV “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name … Continue reading The State of The Church
They Scheme Against Us
The priests and the captain of the temple of God, and the Sadducees came upon Peter and John, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. So, they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day. The next day they brought Peter and … Continue reading They Scheme Against Us
Our Nemesis and His Many Tricks
Matthew 10:24-25 ESV “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.” We, as … Continue reading Our Nemesis and His Many Tricks
With Full Courage
Philippians 1:15-18 ESV “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? … Continue reading With Full Courage
