Final on Spiritual Gifts

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law it is written:
   “With other tongues
   and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
   but even then they will not listen to me,
            says the Lord.”^[e]
 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Good Order in Worship

 ²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
 ²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
 ³⁴ Women^[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[g]
 36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[h]
 39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

So is speaking in tongues a spiritual gift for the modern church?  I have read on the internet some believe it ceased when the apostles died. I then question why God would have inspired Paul to write an entire Chapter on correcting the church on the use of this gift. 

Also, at 2 Timothy 3:16 states:
16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

My final thoughts, I believe spiritual gifts are alive an well. I think Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

Part 2 Tongues for Today?

I Corinthians 14:6-19  Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? ⁷ Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? ⁹ So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. ¹² So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
 ¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
 ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul continues to teach the unruly Corinthian church about speaking in tongues.  He seems to be saying he prays in tongues more than all of them, but he doesn't want them speaking in tongues in church unless someone can interpret.  I can just imagine the scene, the church was so anxious for flashy they misuse the gift they were given.  Some modern church authorities have devalued the gift tongues saying well love is better as in Chapter 13.  Of course it is, but maybe a way to build up the Holy Spirit within us, to be able to love is to seek, pray for spiritual gifts. Why would anyone refuse a gift from God? Why would God want to give us a bad gift? More on this chapter tomorrow....   

Should we throw out this Chapter of the Bible?

This is the draft starting point for I Corinthians 14.  This is a controversial subject. I want to explore what the Bible says. For now, I am just going to post a section of the chapter.  

I Corinthian 14:1-5

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. ² For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.      

Speaking in tongues makes people uncomfortable, so the church has largely ignored it.  Paul says it IS a spiritual gift. Paul says it edifies the speaker.  Paul says he would like every one to speak in tongues.  Why was this whole chapter on tongues such a big deal.  Those crazy Corinthians were OUT of CONTROL in the church and Paul was trying to establish ORDER!

More tomorrow....  

The Love Chapter

This is the Chapter read at more weddings than any verses in the Bible. I think if people took this chapter seriously, we would see a much sweeter world.    

It is a tall order and I am always striving to love in this way, but unfortunately I fail.  More times than I care to admit.  My hope is while my love has failed, praise be to Our Lord Jesus, His Love for us has never failed.  

  

I Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails.

Father, by Your Holy Spirit, teach me to love like this. Teach me, remind me, catch me, convict me. In the name our Savior Jesus.  

Corinth must have been the Sin City of its day

Corinth must have been some city.  While I have been reading 1 Corinthians the past two days, I have also been doing some study on Corinth and reading several commentaries to try and understand the context of how and why the letters were written.  Paul was very direct and his letter was very specific.  

I Corinthians 5 sets the stage for ex-communication from the Church. 

When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. ¹⁰ But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. ¹¹ I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer^[j] yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 he continues to lay on the heat.      

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ⁹ Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. ¹¹ Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I just have to end here.  Here is what the Word says. Lord, help me to pray and be bold enough to speak to people about You.  I don't want anyone to not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.         

Are You Too Wise to believe in Christ?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25
 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
   “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
   the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a]
 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

People believe more in Julius Ceasar than in Jesus and the written history of Christ is documented much more from eye witnesses.  Why did these early Christians die by martrydom if it was all a conspiracy?  I AM A FOOL FOR CHRIST! 

Judge Not

I have a secret fantasy.  I wish I could be Judge Judy.  In her courtroom, she can say whatever she wants.  I DVR her everyday and watch and laugh. She says the things I wish I could say.  "Well that is stupid"  "You, madam are not a nice person"  "You sir are a user"  Unfortunately, I am not a judge.  While I have my thoughts that may be like this at times, I am under a different commandment.

Romans 14:10-13 
¹⁰ But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹ For it is written,
   “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL ^[e]GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”
 ¹² So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
 ¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

Our commandment is Love.  The bible says in 1 Peter 4:8

⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

I need to love to cover my multitude of sins!!!!

Pet Peeve

How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him
Who brings good news, good news,
Announcing peace, proclaiming news of happiness:
Our God reigns, our God reigns.
Our God reigns, our God reigns,
Our God reigns, our God reigns.

Our recent sermon brought this song back to my mind.  I love this beautiful worship song taken from Isaiah.  I have a pet peeve.  The music at church at times physically hurts my ears. Because of me, Vince and I will stand in the hall and come late so I am not in pain.  When the music is so loud I can't hear my self, I think the music is TOO loud.  I am sure this is not the case for most people, and youth LOVE music loud. 

I recently visited a church of a friend and while they had a band, they must have turned the amplifiers down so we could actually hear the voices of the people singing.  It sounded like angels even when the people near me couldn't sing a note.  I loved it and was so moved, I cried. 

Oh well, God inhabits the praises of his people, I will just have to sit outside to not physically plug my ears.  I do miss worship, so I will do a lot of singing in my car!!!   

---

LOVE Fulfills the requirements of God's Law



Love Fulfills God’s Requirements

 ⁸ Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law. ⁹ For the commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.”^[a] These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[b] 10} Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.

I am a simple girl.  The Bible is a huge book with lots of stories and do's and don'ts.  When I read do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet, I feel pretty good.  The commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself" sums up the law.  This is a little harder. I have to admit it out loud. I suffer from self love. I want to do things MY WAY. I want to do things I want to do. If my husband wants to watch football, that does NOT sound fun. I would rather watch Pride and Prejudice for the 1000th time! This dying to self is not so easy.  When I look at my actions and words through the lens of loving others as myself, it takes some sacrifice.  Ouch!  

Dear Lord Jesus. by your Holy Spirit, guide me to do your will in my life. Teach me how to LOVE others as myself.   
 







I AM SENT

Last Sunday, February 12th, Vince and I took my Sister (who I have renamed Joy of God) and my Brother-In-Law who I have renamed (Hands of God) to a sister Church in Shawnee called New City Church.  It was a great service, but I missed the message at our church.  Today, I listened.  It was such a great sermon, I thought since I am time challenged this morning I would post to my blog.  Each of us is Sent to where ever God has placed us, our neighborhoods, our work, our family.  Troy our Pastor rocked it on this message!!! 

 http://parkhill.restorecc.org/sermons#series_63

God's Valentine!!!

The Living Translation below says it all.  What could I even try and add.  Read and drink it into your soul.  Print it out on a card, put it in your car or on your fridge. God's Love surrounds you!!!

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ³² Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? ³³ Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. ³⁴ Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

 ³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”^[a]) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
 ³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.



Peace and Hope

Romans 5

Peace and Hope

 ¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

When I was a teenager I heard an English evangelist and teacher say to remember what it meant to be justified through faith.  He said, "Just as if I'd never sinned."  That is an amazing concept to be viewd by Jesus who died for ME.  When I look at my children, I see who I love, not their mistakes.  It is His unconditional love for us.

Now, to glory in our sufferings is a little harder for me to accept.  Ouch!!  In our society, we have not been taught to accept sufferings.  We are to FIX everything.  Suffering is bad!  I am a model of trying to fix things and of course having lots of failures.  Here is where I need the Holy Spirit to give me His Wisdom.



Faith of Abraham

Romans 4:16-17

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”^[a]) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

Two promises I hold dear. 

1. God, who gives life to the dead.  This is twofold.  Who among your loved ones is spiritually dead? I bless each person I pray for with the gift of spiritual LIFE!  Maybe they are believers but spiritually in a coma!  And secondly, physically dead.  My great joy is they are only dead to this world, but alive with God. He has given them LIFE!!

2. And calls those things which do not exist as though they did.  This is a tougher one for me.  I choose daily to have the faith of Abraham.  Pretty hard to imagine becoming the father of many nations at age 100 and his wife barren and being around 90!!  What are you praying for that seems impossible?  See the answer to your prayer and thank God for it everyday!  God changed their names.  Instead of just saying "exaulted father" God said "father of a multitude."  Seriously, people were thinking, this old guy has lost his mind!! And Sarai to Sarah.  Some believe it went from "my princess" to a more global princess where she would be the princess of many.  

I never really put much stock in what names mean.  I had always heard Mary in Hebrew meant bitter.  I thought wow, what a negative name to name the Mother of Jesus.  I went to the internet on the Catholic Encyclopedia because where are there more Mary's than with Catholics?  I read the whole etomology and cryed when I read another possible translation. 

In 1906 Zorrell advanced another explanation of the name Mary, based on its derivation from the Egyptian mer or mar, to love, and the Hebrew Divine name Yam or Yahweh (Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie, 1906, pp. 356 sqq.). Thus explained the name denotes "one loving Yahweh" or "one beloved by Yahweh".

Today I am going to ask Vince to call me One Beloved by God!!  How would that change my speech? 

For me, I will change my speech from  my child is struggling to my child is blessed by God!  My child is saved by God.  My child is free!  Add in whatever or whoever you are praying for.  I struggle with this and forget how powerful my words can be.  Words are powerful!!  God said, "Let there be Light" and He created something from nothing.  We were made in God's image.  We are creators and we create when we speak.  Speak faith.  

Dear Father, forgive me for my words that have not been in faith. Give me your wisdom by the Holy Spirit to speak blessings and faith, not death and doubt.  I pray this in the name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus.             

     

God is LOVE NOT HATE



Romans Chapter 1 is a meaty chapter and has been used or maybe misused for theology on gays and lesbians.  Verse 26-28 is used, Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.  

This is the only chapter I read today and I read it over and over and tried to read it with new eyes and see what the scriptures are really saying. Did it say being gay or having lust? Could it be interpreted men gave up believing in God were inflamed with lust  and not love? Is lust only sexual or do people lust after money, power, fame?  I am still unsure of how to respond about the biblical viewpoint on this controversial subject.

I am not unsure of how to respond to gay and lesbian people.  I am to respond with LOVE.

Below, Verses 28-32 speak to what a depraved mind is and it seems to be talking about a mind filled with hate.  Love God, Love your neighbor.        

 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Religious Intolerance today?



While America was based on religious freedom, and the Judeo Christian values, there is an subtle attack on Christianity.  It is all in the guise of separation from Church and State.  Not long ago, stores were not saying Merry Christmas but Happy Holidays for fear of offending our supposedly gentler, kinder, more tolerant society.  So much that it is considered somewhat controversial to pray in public at a football game. This is not new. 

Acts 28, the apostle Paul get to Rome to speak in his defense to the Jews in Rome.  In verse 22 they respond to Paul by saying, "But we desire to hear from you what your views are, for with regard to this sect we know that everywhere it is spoken against."          

Some listened to Paul and other's disbelieved.  No different from today's hybrid religious faith where "if you are a good person doctrine" all is good. 

Acts 28:25-27
 ²⁵ They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
 ²⁶ “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
   you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
²⁷ For this people’s heart has become calloused;
   they hardly hear with their ears,
   and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
   hear with their ears,
   understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’^[a]

I pray for revival in America, that we as a country will turn to God and He will heal us.   Holy Spirit, give me wisdom and boldness to speak the truth which is now politically incorrect. 

The Lord's Will Be Done

My reading today was about Paul traveling back to Jerusalem.  As he stopped in towns along the way, he was told over and over by prophets he would be bound and imprisoned.   Acts 10: 10-14  After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
 ¹² When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³ Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴ When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”

At the end of my reading today (Acts 23: 35), Paul had been handed over to the Gentiles and is being guarded in Herod's Praetorium.  See historical picture above. 

Paul and I have the same choice everyday. Am I obedient to the Lord's Will being done in my life?  Could I walk right in to danger and imprisonment and beatings and being hated by people?  Lord, give me wisdom in Your Holy Spirit to know and to do Your will in my life this day and each day.    

Laying on of Hands



Acts 19:2-7

English Standard Version (ESV)

² And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” ⁴ And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” ⁵ On hearing this, they were baptized in^[a] the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.

 

More evidence of the being filled with the Holy Spirit after conversion, but this time with the laying on of hands.  It seems God is very diverse how He accomplishes the outcomes He desires.  Some were filled first with the Holy Spirit, some after they were baptized, but one fact remains, the Holy Spirit, the third person in God is a vital part of our walk with Jesus. Holy Spirit, I want to know You, I want to be filled with You to accomplish God's will in my life.   

Dark Night of the Soul

The bible verses below are a little longer than my usual, but they set the stage for my thinking about trials.  In my past, I would read about Paul being beaten, stoned and imprisoned and calmly think "Well, God gave him faith to handle it and so all was fine."  Guess what, I WAS WRONG!  Big news flash huh?  When someone is beaten, it hurts, when someone is in stocks it is awful. When someone loses a loved one, or is in the midst of a horrible trial they hurt and are broken. 

I had a crisis of faith some years back. When my marriage broke up, I hurt so bad it felt like cancer on the inside. After 3 or 4 years of the divorce, I was still hurting. I felt abandoned by God. I was hurt and angry. Everytime I went to church I would cry. I felt He had abandoned me. I was going through a "Dark Night of the Soul."

From Wikipedia

Typically for a believer in the dark night of the soul, spiritual disciplines (such as prayer and consistent devotion to God) suddenly seem to lose all their experiential value; traditional prayer is extremely difficult and unrewarding for an extended period of time during this "dark night." The individual may feel as though God has suddenly abandoned them or that his or her prayer life has collapsed.

I survived, I came back stronger, but I would not wish this on ANYONE!  I can say it has helped me to help others. At least in the bible verse below Paul and Silas were together in their trails. I know if I go through this again, I will understand.  I wish I had known about this while going through it.

Acts 16:16-24  ²² The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. ²³ After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴ When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 ²⁵ About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. ²⁷ The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸ But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
 ²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰ He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

 ³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. ³⁴ The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

Trials and Tribulations

Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. acts 14:22

I will say it! Family joke, "Me no like!" being raised Catholic we would hear stories about the saints being martyred for their faith. St. Lucy had her eyes poked out, St Peter was crucified upside down because he wasn't worthy to die like Christ. Saints being thrown to the lions. As a little girl I remember being scared but being taught we must be willing to suffer martyrdom for God. Fast forward, I still struggle with tribulation. Yesterday I went to the funeral of an 11 year old boy. His celebration service at his family church made me cry and made me laugh. I was amazed at the faith of his family as they spoke, especially his mother. People face trials everyday. Cancer, job loss, family problems, death of loved ones. I know we live in a sin stained world and our faith is sorely tested. Lord Jesus, please provide the Holy Spirit's comfort to weather our tribulations.

Filled with joy and the Holy Spirit

You really can't read the book of Acts and not see how they mention over and over the Holy Spirit. They seem to have a close relationship with this third member of the Trinity. Chapter 13 speaks three times about Him. Verse 2 while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting the Holy Spirit said...verse 9 Paul filled with the Holy Spirit said...verse 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

This being "filled" with the Holy Spirit is interesting. I can't say, Last week when I was talking to so and so I was filled with the Holy Spirit and said...or last week when I was fasting the Holy Spirit said... I have had pockets, and times of this, but want more. Holy Spirit, teach me how to walk with You, listen to You and when needed to speak, be filled with You.

My GOAL:



Gift of the Holy Spirit and Water Baptism

Acts 10: 44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in tongues^[a] and praising God.
   Then Peter said, ⁴⁷ “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” ⁴⁸ So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

Like my previous post, there seems to be evidence that there are two separate experiences.  Some people first were baptized in water and then the apostles came and laid hands on them and they recieved the Holy Spirit. In the above scripture the gift of the Holy Spirit came and then they were baptized in water.  I believe the Holy Spirit is the key.  I am a "Spirit filled" believer.  I think being filled with the Spirit, is a path that each Christian must seek.  Some churches routinely practice this as the Catholic Church would call it a "sacrament".  Just like water baptism, it seems to be another step in our walk of faith.  Being filled with the spirit is not a one time fix all.  Our walk with God, our prayer time, our time reading the word will produce times of being filled with the spirit.  For me, one day I have a marvelous morning with the Lord and everything "feels" so clear.  I have insights and feel the Holy Spirit with me.  But, life has a way of going on and the clarity fades.  But we walk in faith and decide to continue and surrender each day.  Today and each day Lord, I ask for the Holy Spirit in my life.  Fill me, teach me, guide me, give me wisdom, give me boldness.  Let me use the "gift" you have given us and not leave it wrapped up on the shelf.   

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 8:14-17 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. ¹⁵ When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, ¹⁶ because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

This is a theological question in churches.  Catholics call it confirmation. Some churches believe it is an all in one deal at salvation or water baptism, others believe it is a separate in filling after baptism.  I am going to study, pray and seek God on this subject. 

What a Prayer Meeting!

The Book of Acts is amazing.  Chapters 3 and 4 tell about Peter and John, after a miraculous healing of man crippled since birth and some awesome preaching about Jesus were put in jail overnight. The next day they were brought out to  the religious leaders. They boldly preached to them and were told not to spread or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  The leaders could only threaten them because the people were prasing God for the miracle.  Peter and John went back and had a prayer meeting and prayed for BOLDNESS!  Wow, I thought it was pretty bold to get out of jail and preach in the face of the people who threw them in jail.      

Acts 4:23-31
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
   “‘Why do the nations rage
   and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
   and the rulers band together
against the Lord
   and against his anointed one.^[a]’^[b]
 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
 ³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
   
Praying together shook the house!!!  Also, while God knows scripture, using his Word in prayer builds faith. I pray the same prayer, enable ME to speak Your word with great boldness!!  Let's rock the house!!