All Glory to God

All supernatural things are not of God. Even the things that are supernatural, such as signs and wonders, these may be perceived in a wrong way. Paul and Barnabas spoke first the gospel message with signs following. It is by faith in the Living God that He is glorified. Jesus is the Son of God who brings forgiveness of sins and signs and wonders through the obedience of his disciples.

Act 14:8  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
Act 14:9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Act 14:10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
Act 14:11  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
Act 14:12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Act 14:13  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
Act 14:14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
Act 14:15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? 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:
Act 14:16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
Act 14:17  Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
Act 14:18  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Act 14:19  And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
Act 14:20  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

Paul and Barnabas were in a land that worshipped false gods. When they spoke the gospel message, the focus was more on the healing that followed. The Greek gods, Jupiter and Mercury, were given credit for the work of the Holy Spirit. God does not share his glory with false gods. Paul and Barnabas were quick to give the credit to God almighty, even tearing their clothes as an act of  humility to give God the glory and not to man. Then came the Jews from Antioch that were opposing them.This is why we must be determined to serve God and not to give up and to be faint hearted.  Satan always seems to come to try to destroy the work of God. They resulted in stoning Paul and they thought that he was dead as they dragged him out of the city. From a god to a dead man in one day. Our God is greater, for as the disciples stood around him, probably in prayer, He raised up Paul who returned to the city. The next day they departed.

If you are in ministry to be praised of men, then you are seeking glory  that only belongs to God. Quit the competition to look good before men. To have a bigger church or a higher position. It is God who calls and he chooses the least likely before the world to serve him.

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1Co 1:27  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1Co 1:28  And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1Co 1:29  That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

The message and the focus is to be on the God of Israel and His Son Jesus who came to save our souls unto himself. Give God all the Glory, speak His word, humble yourself before him and he will lift you up to serve him. Let us celebrate Him in worship and praise. Our reward and honor will be given to us when we are with him in glory. Come, let us worship the LORD.

My Heart's Desire

Paul was a Roman citizen, but above all he loved Israel and the Jewish people, for he too was a Jew, a Pharisee of the Pharisees but when he saw the blinding light...Jesus, on the road to Damascus,(Acts 9:3)  his life and calling was turned around to serve Messiah Jesus. He was called to be the apostle to the Gentiles.

 

Rom 10:1  Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
Rom 10:2  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Rom 10:3  For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Antioch

 

Act 13:44  And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
Act 13:45  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.
Act 13:46  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Act 13:47  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
Act 13:48  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

 

When family or those we love most refuse the gospel message, it tears at our heart, as it did to Paul who loved his fellow Jews. He didn't stop loving and praying for them who were connected by blood, but who lacked faith. and we do not stop praying for them as well.

 

Rom 9:1  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Rom 9:2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
Rom 9:3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
Rom 9:4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
Rom 9:5  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 9:6  Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Rom 9:7  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Rom 9:8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

The children of the promise which is received by faith. By faith in Messiah Jesus both Jew and the Gentiles become the children of the promise.

 

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

I love Israel as the people of the promises of God and I love the people of the Church who are included in the family of God. We also love those who are not yet seeing the light, that is Jesus who are still in the darkness of sin. I pray that those who cannot see will see Jesus and be saved as well. This is my heart's desire.

Miracle power, not magic

The Holy Ghost must be received to have God's power for ministry. He may come upon a person by the act of God, others pray to receive Him, and in this story prayer and the laying on of hands were the means of receiving the Holy Ghost. The power is not bought or earned.

 

Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Act 8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Act 8:8  And there was great joy in that city.
Act 8:9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
Act 8:10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
Act 8:11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
Act 8:12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Act 8:13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Act 8:14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Act 8:21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.
Act 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
Act 8:23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.
Act 8:24  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. Act 8:25  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Philip preached the word of God to the Samaritans and they believed and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Simon the sorcerer was one of those who believed the true report and were baptized in the name of Jesus. Peter and Paul came to Samaria. There was one thing more that was needed, the receiving of the Holy Ghost. They prayed first and then laid  their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. Simon apparently did not receive the Holy Ghost, but wanted to give money to them to receive the power to do miracles. I am sure that today there are many TV preachers who would take his money with promises given, but there is no substitute for personal prayer and the laying on of hands. On our Internet ministry many were saved and discipled, but there was no laying on of hands, this would be done through a Spirit filled local church. Many did receive the Holy Ghost and are continuing in faith. I pray for all who receive Jesus, that they be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost.

 

Luke 11:9  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Luke 11:10  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 11:11  If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Luke 11:12  Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
Luke 11:13  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The Holy Ghost is not for magic. He must feed on the word of God. We must know who we believe and we hear from God in the word of God. There is a discipling needed to be used of God. The Holy Ghost is our teacher.