Acts 8:6-8

Miracles seen and heard by non believers show the power of God to save. These same miracles reaffirm to believers that all things are under His control.

Love covers a multitude of sins…ours!

Nearly anything good can become unproductive if it’s abused or misused. Paul is all about embracing the side of spirituality that can seem a bit wacky to us today—gifts of tongues and prophecy, to name a few. But he is fully aware of the problems that can come from these gifts being used in a way that doesn’t fit within God’s will. And Paul’s primary concern is that spiritual gifts are used only within the bounds of love.

Love is what it’s all about. “Pursue love, and strive for spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Cor 14:1–2). By tongues, Paul is likely referencing the “tongues of angels”—some angelic language (1 Cor 13:1)—although elsewhere the term is used in reference to people speaking in a language they don’t actually know for the sake of ministering to others in their native tongue (Acts 2:3–4).

Love—as manifested in Christ’s death and resurrection and in our living sacrificially for Him and others—is central, and spiritual gifts should support that cause.

Paul goes on to say: “Now I want you all to speak with tongues, but even more that you may prophesy.… But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I benefit you, unless I speak to you either with a revelation or with knowledge or with a prophecy or with a teaching?” (1 Cor 14:5–6).

Spiritual gifts are meant to indwell believers. Christians are meant to be driven by God’s Spirit and to do miraculous things in His name. But none of it matters if it’s not for the purpose of showing Christ’s love.

What gifts do you resist using? How can you use the spiritual gifts God has given you to show love to others

 Barry, J. D., & Kruyswijk, R. (2012). Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Acts 8:6-8

⁶ And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city.

¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 

Mark 16:17

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1–3

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14:1

2 Timothy 1:13-14

The gifts of God include faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is? Love.

The grace of God dwells in the heart of believers.

Paul made sure that whatever other counsel he gave his pupil, Timothy would find beneath it all a rock-solid dependence on God’s Word. Timothy’s authority would not come from his own wisdom, Paul’s endorsement, or the acceptance of others. His teaching would stand only to the degree that it was based on Scripture. 

Our affirmations and actions have to be founded on God’s Word or they will be little more than wishful thinking.

We must guard and protect the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us. Christ within is the hope of God’s glory shining forth in His creation.

2 Timothy 1:13-14

¹³ Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. NKJ

¹⁷ But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 

Romans 6:17

1 Timothy 4:9-11

How God longs to gather us together, safe and protected, under His wings.

Great is His faithfulness!

God is the One who gives life, breath, and existence to all and His special saving grace to those who trust Him as their Savior. Call 911.

1 Timothy 4:9-11

⁹ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. ¹¹ These things command and teach. The New King James Version.

⁶ Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast. 

Psalm 36:6

⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. 

Psalm 37:9

Republican, Independent or Democrat, God should rule in our hearts, out of it we speak His truth. 

God shows no partiality. 

God’s discipline is consistent from leadership to laity. Sin is a serious matter in the lives of believers, especially those in leadership.

1 Timothy 5:20-21

²⁰ Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. ²¹ I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

 The New King James Version.

¹⁷ You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 

Deuteronomy 1:17

¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 

1 Peter 4:17

Mark 11:2-3

Rest assured  God controls everything. 

 Every. Thing.

Whatever happens in this life God has allowed it. He uses life events for His purposes…to mold us into the character of  Jesus. The easy way or the hard way, we will learn, what is necessary to bring Him glory.

The deity of Jesus Christ is evident in this passage. It demonstrates His omniscience. It is possible for a donkey on which no one has sat to be very calm and accommodating, but Jesus is also master of all nature and all creatures.

omniscience |ämˈniSH(ə)nsämˈnisēəns|

noun

the state of knowing everything: the notion of divine omniscience | his reputation for near omniscience and infallibility.

In Latin, omnis means "all" and science means “knowing".

More than one-third of Mark’s narrative takes place during a seven-day period—the Passover week when Jesus is finally put to death. Mark’s Gospel has been called a Passion story with a long introduction. His emphasis on the Passion Week is appropriate.

Without this week, Jesus would not have fulfilled his purpose for coming to the earth.

Mark 11:2-3,

He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. ³ And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”

 The New King James Version.

⁷ Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 

Isaiah 56:7

³² And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 

Luke 4:32

The Prophet Zephaniah

God has the world that He created in His hands…rejoice for every day that passes brings Christ closer to us!!

Jesus seized on Zephaniah’s picture of the day of the Lord. On one occasion He referred to Zephaniah 1:3, when He spoke of His second coming and gathering “out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness” 

(Matt. 13:41).The NKJV Study Bible

The last section of Zephaniah’s prophecy contains words of hope: promises of protection for the remnant and promises for the future of those who know Him truly. In a future day, peoples of all nations will come to worship the Lord. His own people will be renewed in righteousness. And the King of kings Himself will rule in their midst. That day of the Lord’s return will be a day of song and gladness. Even God will burst out in joyful singing. The raging anger of the Lord will be replaced by His happy singing, for salvation will finally have come to His people.

Zephaniah 2:11

 ¹¹The Lord will be awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth; People shall worship Him,

Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations. 

Zephaniah 3:8–20 

⁸Therefore wait for Me,” says the Lord, “Until the day I rise up for plunder; My determination is to gather the nations To My assembly of kingdoms, To pour on them My indignation, All My fierce anger; All the earth shall be devoured With the fire of My jealousy. ⁹ “For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the Lord, To serve Him with one accord. ¹⁰ From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My worshipers, The daughter of My dispersed ones, Shall bring My offering. ¹¹ In that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds In which you transgress against Me; For then I will take away from your midst Those who rejoice in your pride, And you shall no longer be haughty In My holy mountain. ¹² I will leave in your midst A meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the Lord. ¹³ The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness And speak no lies, Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found …

Revelation 21:1–6 

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. ² Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” ⁶ And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 

“Turn off the news” and listen to Paul…9-11.

Titus was to cut off the church’s relationship with any person who would not submit to correction after two warnings. Sinning indicates that the man will not change his ways and thus continues to rebel against God.

 Titus 3:9-11

⁹ But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. ¹⁰ Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, ¹¹ knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.

 The New King James Version.

⁴ nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 

1 Timothy 1:4

²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 

2 Timothy 2:23

¹⁷ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 

Matthew 18:17

Daniel 12:1-3

No man knows the exact date of Jesus’s return but every sign points to soon, very soon.

A time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation refers to the period of tribulation just prior to the coming of Christ. Those who shall be delivered are those whose names are written in the book of life, God’s record of those who have been justified by faith.

Despite the terrors of that time, deliverance is assured. No matter how great the attack is against the Jewish people, God promises to preserve them. He will never break His promise to Abraham: And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you (Genesis 17:7).

Daniel 12:1-3

12“At that time Michael shall stand up,

The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;

And there shall be a time of trouble,

Such as never was since there was a nation,

Even to that time.

And at that time your people shall be delivered,

Every one who is found written in the book.

² And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,

Some to everlasting life,

Some to shame and everlasting contempt.

³ Those who are wise shall shine

Like the brightness of the firmament,

And those who turn many to righteousness

Like the stars forever and ever.

 The New King James Version.

²¹ For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 

Matthew 24:21

¹⁹ For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. 

Mark 13:19

²⁶ And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 

Romans 11:26

²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 

John 5:29

²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. 

James 5:20

Luke 16:8

We are sons of a living God. We are to be good caretakers of the talents that He has given us for our good but also the good of all the Body Of Christ. 

To the world money is their god, to believers God is their world.

The unjust steward is not set before us as an example in cheating his master, or to justify any dishonesty, but to point out the careful ways of worldly men. It would be well if the children of light would learn wisdom from the men of the world, and would as earnestly pursue their better object. The true riches signify spiritual blessings; and if a man spends upon himself, or hoards up what God has trusted to him, as to outward things, what evidence can he have, that he is an heir of God through Christ? The riches of this world are deceitful and uncertain. Let us be convinced that those are truly rich, and very rich, who are rich in faith, and rich toward God, rich in Christ, in the promises; let us then lay up our treasure in heaven, and expect our portion from thence. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary.

Three explanations are commonly given concerning the steward's right to alter the amount his master was owed: 

(1) The steward simply lowered the price on his own authority; 

(2) the steward removed the interest charge from the debt, according to the Law (see Lev. 25:36, 37; Deut. 15:7, 8; 23:20, 21); or (3) the steward removed his own commission, sacrificing only his own money and not that of his master. The different rates of reduction reflect the different rates for different commodities.

So, the principle that Jesus is trying to convey is one of a just steward rather than an unjust one. The unjust steward saw his master’s resources as a means for his own personal enjoyment and advancement. Conversely, Jesus wants His followers to be just, righteous stewards. If we understand the principle that everything we own is a gift from God, then we realize that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards. As such, we are to use the Master’s resources to further the Master’s goals. In this specific case, we are to be generous with our wealth and use it for the benefit of others.

Money may be a useful servant, but it’s a terrible master.

Luke 16:8

⁸ So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light

⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 

Ephesians 5:8

Zephaniah 1:1-3

From the beginning of mans’ connection with God families were relationally used by Him for HIStory. He is faithful to those who place their trust and their family in His care. 

In the darkest of times we are hidden and safe in His arms.

The message of Zephaniah begins with a pronouncement of universal judgment. These words not only introduce the particular judgment that would be pronounced upon Judah, but they also speak of the final judgment that will usher in the kingdom of God on earth.

Zephaniah 1:1-3

1 The word of the Lord which came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, the son of Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hezekiah, in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

² “I will utterly consume everything

From the face of the land,”

Says the Lord;

³ “I will consume man and beast;

I will consume the birds of the heavens,

The fish of the sea,

And the stumbling blocks along with the wicked.

I will cut off man from the face of the land,”

Says the Lord.

 The New King James Version.

Due Respect

We need to be very careful that we give due respect to the leaders of our Church, our state, and our nation. It is against God’s command to speak falsely against them.

Two particular groups are singled out for judgment: those who live in unclean lust and those who hold authority in contempt.

⁵ Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’ ”

Acts 23:5

¹⁰ and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 

2 Peter 2:10

²⁸ “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people. 

Exodus 22:28

⁸ Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 

Jude 8

2 Timothy 2:3-4

Love God above all and others as much as yourself. He shows partiality to no man. Speak the truth in love.

Be Fair, 

Forgive easily 

but most importantly walk humbly with your God!

2 Timothy 2:3-4

³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier

 The New King James Version.

Philippians 1:9-11

Call 911….in an emergency situation call on this passage to temper your words with healing and truth. 

It is hard to speak the truth in Gods’ mercy and grace without letting our human emotions temper our words. May the fruit of the Holy Spirit fill us and allow His wisdom to flow from the hearts of we who believe in Him.

And the greatest of of these  fruit (Galatians 5:22) is love

 These verses not only reveal Paul’s relation to the Philippians but also his view of God. The Lord does not merely start a wonderful work in us; He finishes what He starts. This is a comfort for those Christians who are in times of distress or suffering. God will continue His work in us.

The Greek word discernment means moral or ethical understanding based on both the intellect and the senses. The word implies perception or insight into social situations.

Philippians 1:9-11

⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. The New King James Version

¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 

Ephesians 2:10

⁶ which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; 

Colossians 1:6

⁸ By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. 

John 15:8

Matthew 4:1

When you give your heart to Jesus, Satan will use every thing in his bag of tricks to tempt you away from the one, true God.

 Stand fast, resist the devil and he must flee. 

Jesus’ response to all three temptations was to quote the Word of God, showing His followers the power of Scripture in battling the Evil One. We are made strong in the furnace of affliction but He will not allow us to go through trials without a way of escape….trust in Him alone.

 He will start with your physical needs: food, housing, clothing. If that fails he will use your own stupidity to destroy you from the inside out with irrational, risky behavior. His last trick is to get you to worship the world and all its idols: pride, greed and arrogance, making you believe that the world is yours for the taking and whatever it takes to succeed is just being street smart.

Satan did not lead Jesus to the temptation; the Holy Spirit did. This temptation took place immediately after Jesus’ baptism. Spiritual victories are often followed by testing.

Matthew 4:1

4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

 The New King James Version.

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 

Luke 4:1

¹²  Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 

Mark 1:12

Luke 15:8-10

How precious we are to the Trinity. 

God will not allow His children to remain lost. He searches for them like jewels and restores them through His mercy and grace. The only one who can separate us from our Father is ourself.

 The woman needed a lamp because she lived in a windowless house.

He is the light of our soul.

Luke 15:8-10

⁸ “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹ And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ ¹⁰ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The New King James Version.