Acts 12:11

God delivers us from our enemy. We fight against the forces of darkness knowing that  Jesus has already won that battle.

Rejoice and be glad!

The way we are to be made right with God is found in Christ. Paul sums it up in Romans 5:19: "For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous." We don't need someone to just cover our sins - we need a complete cleansing. So although they are parallel, Adam and Christ are not equal. Adam's sin condemned all humankind; but for those who trust in Christ, "the free gift is not like the trespass" (Romans 5:15). Christ's sacrifice doesn't just justify us before God - His blood cleanses our sins, redeems our lives, satisfies God's wrath, gives us peace today and allows us to live forever in heaven. 

The contrast is compelling and comforting as we read Paul's words: "Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more" (Romans 5:20). We live in a world abundant with sin, but our Savior has come to provide a more abundant salvation. As we become more and more aware of the abundance of sin, may we rest and rejoice in the more abundant salvation available in our Savior. First5 

Acts 12:11

11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.” The New King James Version

Why was Peter’s life spared while James’s life was taken? The answer is the sovereign will of God. If we believe that God is good and wise, we can trust that what He allowed to happen was part of His wise plan for the good of all of His people. When we place our complete trust in the goodness of God, we can find true peace. God is in control despite any appearance to the contrary. The NKJV Study Bible

This deliverance of Peter represents our redemption by Christ, which not only proclaims liberty to the captives, but brings them out of the prison-house. Peter, when he recollected himself, perceived what great things God had done for him. Thus souls delivered out of spiritual bondage, are not at first aware what God has wrought in them; many have the truth of grace, that want evidence of it. But when the Comforter comes, whom the Father will send, sooner or later, he will let them know what a blessed change is wrought.  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy,

Psalm 33:19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

Daniel 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

Daniel 6:22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

Acts 16:13-14

God calls us to Him and opens our eyes to the wonder and    the daily    joy  of our salvation in Jesus Christ.

Joy in the Lord is our strength! 

Satan seeks to steal it… don’t let him.

“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts.” (From Paul’s letter to the Romans) And yet, in our topsy turvy world, it is easy to forget that each one of us carries these gifts, and the capacity to spill them.

The powerlessness of kindness, of senseless kindness, is the secret of its immortality. It can never be conquered... Human history is not the battle of good struggling to overcome evil. It is a battle fought by a great evil struggling to crush a small kernel of human kindness. Vasily Grossman “Sabbath Moments”

Romans 5:1 (ESV) "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Life in Christ is much more than a rescue from wrath and an assurance of heaven. In addition to future glory, our justification brings benefits to enjoy in the present (pun intended).]

Joy in God Himself

Our blessing of justification is finding joy in God Himself. Because Jesus Christ has reconciled us to the Father, (Romans 5:11) we have the opportunity and freedom every single day to draw near to the Lord and find satisfaction for our souls. First5 

Acts 16:13-14

13 And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. 14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. The New King James Version

Purple cloth was a very valuable good, which only people of great financial means could afford. Lydia, the first convert in the region, has the financial means to become a key supporter of the early church. Faithlife Study Bible

According to Jewish custom, a congregation consisted of ten households. If ten male household heads could be found in a city, a synagogue was formed. If not, a place of prayer was established, usually near a river under the open sky. Paul’s habit was to go first to the synagogue of a new city. However in Philippi, he searched for a Jewish prayer meeting. 

Thyatira was well known for purple dyes and cloth dyeing. Purple dye had to be gathered drop by drop from a certain shellfish. Because it was so expensive, purple dye was used on garments worn by royalty. As an artisan in purple dyes, Lydia was a wealthy woman who had come to Philippi to practice her trade. Paul preached the gospel, but the Lord opened Lydia’s heart to it. The NKJV Study Bible

A solemn assembly the worshippers of God must have, if possible, upon the sabbath day. If we have not synagogues, we must be thankful for more private places, and resort to them; not forsaking the assembling together, as our opportunities are. 

Among the hearers of Paul was a woman, named Lydia. She had an honest calling, which the historian notices to her praise. Yet though she had a calling to mind, she found time to improve advantages for her soul. It will not excuse us from religious duties, to say, We have a trade to mind; for have not we also a God to serve, and souls to look after? Religion does not call us from our business in the world, but directs us in it. 

Pride, prejudice, and sin shut out the truths of God, till his grace makes way for them into the understanding and affections; and the Lord alone can open the heart to receive and believe his word. We must believe in Jesus Christ; there is no coming to God as a Father, but by the Son as Mediator. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Luke 24:45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Revelation 1:11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”

Revelation 2:18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

Revelation 2:24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

Life Church Vineyard

Pastor Mitch Price

Jesus the name above every other name!

Happy heavenly Mother’s Day Momma.

A Mothering Heart.

The heart of a good mom is at the very heart of God. He understands the whole of us and we can all have  a mothering heart with or without children in our lives.

Abraham and Sarah were promised a child by God. After many years without becoming pregnant Sarah told Abraham to have a child with Hagar, her maid servant. He failed to trust God and it did not end well. It caused a real problem with how Sarah treated Hagar and she flees. God sees the single mom and reassures her that He will take care of her and her son.

In Genesis God let Hagar know that “He sees her”

Psalm 56:8

8 You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book? 9 When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.

The heart of a good Mom ilays down her wants for the needs of others. 

John 15:13

15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you

Matthew 23:11

11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Matthew 20:16

16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 16:24

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me

Galatians 6:9

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

The New King James Version

Acts 2:5–13

Not all could understand those speaking in tongues. God knew who would accept this gift.

Acts 1:11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

May we, sharing in the faith of Abraham, daily choose to trust in the One who has saved us. Our faith and obedience may be imperfect, but our perfect and faithful God is not limited by our imperfection. God accomplishes His greatest works even by our smallest steps of faith. First5 

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you" (Isaiah 46:4, NIV). 

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Acts 2:5–13

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?” 13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.” The New King James Version

The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost marks the official inauguration of the new covenant and serves as a witness to the nation of Israel. The Church’s reception of the Holy Spirit, preaching, and sudden growth testify to the reality of Christ’s resurrection and His ongoing reign.

The wording used here, together with the reference to tongues or languages and to the many nations recalls the old time account of the Tower of Babel. There, Yahweh came down to thwart ill-founded human ambition and pride by confusing their languages. In Acts, the Spirit of the Lord comes down to proclaim salvation in Christ by making the gospel intelligible in all languages.

It seems that Galileans were generally considered by cosmopolitan Jews in Jerusalem, and Jews in wider Judaea, to be uneducated and culturally backward. The cosmopolitan Jews in Jerusalem were astounded that such men could speak other languages so fluently. This list of regions moves generally from east to west and north to south. Luke (the narrator) demonstrates that the kingdom of God is destined to reach the entire world. Faithlife Study Bible

People from all over the known world were in Jerusalem. Most of them probably knew Greek, but they also spoke the various languages of the Mediterranean world. The visitors to Jerusalem probably expected the apostles to use Aramaic or Greek, but instead they heard their own dialect. The visitors were astonished because they knew this was most unlikely unless the speakers had come from their land. This was a sign from heaven, a supernatural event. the wonderful works of God: It appears that the “speaking in tongues” did not consist of proclaiming the gospel. Rather, the apostles were praising God’s mighty works. The NKJV Study Bible

The difference in languages which arose at Babel, has much hindered the spread of knowledge and religion. The instruments whom the Lord first employed in spreading the Christian religion, could have made no progress without this gift, which proved that their authority was from God. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Acts 2:1–4

In our days, on God’s timeline, we are under the direct guidance and covering of Holy Spirt. Jesus did not leave us alone and forsaken he Baptizes us with His very Spirit. And the greatest of His gifts is love!

1 John 4:8

Those who love…know God

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is kind!

A kind word or a smile can change a persons day.

What are you doing to make someone else’s life better?

Faith without works is dead. Works without faith is dead.

Jesus sends us to love others.

There is nothing that you have done that God cannot correct in your life…His plans for you are greater than you can understand. It starts with forgiveness.  It is a decision. You pray for God to bless them. If they are in need you help them. For your own sake understand this. Bitterness and resentment let satan control you.  When we let it go we are set free. God can then do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Joyce Meyers

A well-lived life needs to be both gentle and strong, tender and fierce. So many important things depend on our ability to hold that paradox: raising a child, being a good friend or teacher, advocating for love, truth, and justice in a world that’s often hostile to those virtues.

None of our most important tasks can be done well if ‘niceness’ or an aversion to conflict keeps us from doing the right thing. SabbathMoments 

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote about another seal: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit..." (Ephesians 1:13).

The seal of the Spirit produces external evidence of the work God has done in a Christian's heart. When we walk in step with the Spirit, we produce fruits that give testimony to His internal transformation of our hearts. (Galatians 5:22-25)

The seal of the Holy Spirit also serves as a distinction of belonging to God. It's as if God says, "This one's mine." His seal serves as a guarantee of our coming inheritance in Christ. (Ephesians 1:14) What reason we have to praise and glorify Him! Justification is by faith alone. First5 

Acts 2:1–4

2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The New King James Version

The Greek word used here, pnoē, sounds like the word for Spirit (pneuma). The intensity of the sound and its origin from heaven announce its divine origin. Fire is often used to describe God’s holy presence and His ability to purify. The reference to tongues or languages indicates that this is a reversal of the Tower of Babel, where God confused the languages of those who rebelled against Him. Fire as a Motif of Divine Presence may imply the permanence and intimacy of the Spirit’s ministry. These languages were not heavenly utterances, but human speech understood by a wide variety of people groups present in Jerusalem for the feast. Faithlife Study Bible

Pentecost was one of the three major Jewish festivals; the other two are the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. From the Greek word for “fifty,” Pentecost was so named because it fell on the fiftieth day after the Sabbath of the Passover. Pentecost was also known as “the Feast of Weeks,” “the Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest,” and “the Day of Firstfruits.” During this harvest celebration, the Jews brought to God the firstfruits of their harvest in thanksgiving, expecting that God would give the rest of the harvest as His blessing. 

This particular Day of Pentecost was the day of firstfruits of Christ’s church, the beginning of the great harvest of souls who would come to know Christ and be joined together through the work of the Holy Spirit.

A sound like a rushing mighty wind was needed to attract the multitudes to the small gathering of apostles who were sitting, the normal position for listening to someone speak, rather than standing for prayer. After the great crowd-gathering sound came the visual manifestation of God. 

Fire often indicated the presence of God. God initially appeared to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed. God guided the children of Israel with a pillar of fire by night, and He descended before them in fire on Mt. Sinai. God sent fire to consume Elijah’s offering on Mt. Carmel and He used a vision of fire to warn Ezekiel of His coming judgment. 

The word translated tongues here is the normal Greek word for known languages. Speaking in “tongues” or diverse languages underscored the universal outreach of the church. These witnesses were speaking foreign dialects to the people who had gathered for Pentecost from other nations. The Day of Pentecost, as one of the three major Jewish celebrations, was a pilgrimage event. People who lived outside Israel traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival. They came from Arabia, Crete, Asia, and even as far away as Rome. Many of these people stayed in Jerusalem for the entire 50-day celebration. 

Note that the text does not say that the Spirit spoke through the apostles, but that the Spirit gave them the ability to speak in languages that they had not previously known. The NKJV Study Bible

Mark 16:17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Revelation 14:12-13

Just B.E.L.I.E.V.E. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise us to meet Him in our final hours.

Only in the guidance and protection of Holy Spirit can we stand. He can do what we in ourselves cannot.

“Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Revelation 14:12-13

12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” The New King James Version

Those who patiently keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, even in very difficult times, will receive a special divine blessing. 

Blessed signals the second of seven beatitudes in Revelation. Six of the seven are clustered in the latter third of the Book of Revelation, perhaps as promises to encourage exemplary Christian response in the extremely difficult circumstances of the end times. From now on may mean from the point in the tribulation John is referring to, or from the time John was writing to his original readers. Spiritual rest is available to anyone who comes to Jesus Christ in faith. The martyrs under the fifth seal had been told by the Lord to rest “a little while longer” until God’s plan was complete. Here the believers who have died are also told to rest from their labors, in the knowledge that their good works will be remembered and rewarded. The NKJV Study Bible

Patient endurance of the saints refers to their perseverance in the pursuit of righteousness and faith.

This is an encouragement for believers but with a view toward eternal destiny: Those who persist in faith and do not take part in the worship of the beast will avoid the second death and receive divine blessing. This has been John’s command from the beginning of the book. John anticipates several martyrdoms in the near future. 

For their deeds follow after them describes a record of their service and faithfulness to Christ. This sectionis an exhortation to believers to avoid compromise with the world and the beast and to persevere until death. In the end, their deeds will testify to their faith. Faithlife Study Bible

The believer is to venture or suffer any thing in obeying the commandments of God, and professing the faith of Jesus. May God bestow this patience upon us. Observe the description of those that are and shall be blessed: such as die in the Lord; die in the cause of Christ, in a state of union with Christ; such as are found in Christ when death comes. They rest from all sin, temptation, sorrow, and persecution; for there the wicked cease from troubling, there the weary are at rest. Their works follow them: do not go before as their title, or purchase, but follow them as proofs of their having lived and died in the Lord: the remembrance of them will be pleasant, and the reward far above all their services and sufferings. This is made sure by the testimony of the Spirit, witnessing with their spirits, and the written word. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Ecclesiastes 4:1 Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: and look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter—On the side of their oppressors there is power, but they have no comforter.

Ecclesiastes 4:2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, more than the living who are still alive.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Luke 9:6-9

We had Mom’s Memorial yesterday, she was laid to rest with Daddy. About 50 of our family gathered together, the Huber’s and the Wildermuth’s,  to give our final respect. Our home was filled all weekend with our family from Ohio, North Carolina, Texas and Florida. Today seems so quiet.

The minister was my brother in laws’ sister and my sister gave the eulogy. We ended with my nephew singing Amazing Grace. We all went to my house for the dinner that we had prepared and in our sunny front yard we sent off balloons in pastel colors. 

She will be missed  but there is comfort in knowing she is with Jesus and reunited with Daddy. Married on April Fools Day they celebrated 71 years together. 

Rest in God’s perfect peace Momma!

“Dear Lord, grant me the grace of wonder. Surprise me, amaze me, awe me in every crevice of your universe. Each day enrapture me with your marvelous things without number. I do not ask to see the reason for it all; I ask only to share the wonder of it all.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Luke 9:6-9

6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Him; and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, 8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. 9 Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him. The New King James Version

Some people regarded Jesus as John the Baptist risen from the dead; others viewed Him as the old testament prophet Elijah, who was expected to return someday. Herod, who beheaded John, was anxious to learn about the true identity of Jesus. Herod’s curiosity is finally satisfied when Pilate sends Jesus to Herod. Faithlife Study Bible

Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus

Matthew 14:2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

Mark 6:14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

Mark 6:15 Others said, “It is Elijah.”And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”

Luke 23:8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he had desired for a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things about Him, and he hoped to see some miracle done by Him.