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A Gospel Believing Church-Bible Study 301

A Gospel Believing Church-Bible Study 301

Acts 8:26-31    Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

I love how my favorite study Bible puts this; “This question indicates the diligence that is required in the study of Scripture. The Spirit of God does not eliminate the need for human teachers or diligent study. The Spirit is not give to make study needless but to make study effective.” The eunuch had been to Jerusalem and was searching for the truth. He had likely been taught the in the synagogues by the teachers of the day, but yet he still had questions. This is an incredible passage of how Phillip took the passage of suffering, and showed the eunuch that the One that would suffer was not Israel, but Jesus Christ for all humanity. Phillip showed the evidence of Christ in the Old Testament, and presented the Gospel to him. The eunuch came to know Christ as his Savior, and even was baptized, all by the leading of the Spirit, and the obedience of Phillip. 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

Sadly today we see so many trying to do Christianity alone. You could fill a book full of their excuses for not going to church, but all of their excuses are the plans of Satan becoming successful in their lives. Satan has always sought to divide the church, for he knows the power of a united church. Christianity is not a solo sport; pride is at the root of all the reasons to be a loner, and failure is at the peak of that pursuit. The Bible is very clear in it’s teaching of this ideology; Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. As the body of believers we gather together to encourage each other and learn from good preachers and teachers of the Word. A teacher explains the scripture, a preacher explains the relevancy of it in our lives. It is critical in your Christian journey that you find and participate in a Gospel believing church that preaches repentance, Christ alone, and spreading that Good News to others.

 
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Posted by on January 8, 2014 in Daily Devotions

 

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Complacency needs to stop

Complacency needs to stop

Zephaniah 1:12-13    “And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, ‘The Lord will not do good, Nor will He do evil.’ 13 Therefore their goods shall become booty, And their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.”

The prophet Zephaniah was warning those in Judah of the coming judgement of God for their sinful lifestyles. They had again fell into lives of great sins under the last two evil rulers, Manasseh and his son Amon. Now under a good ruler Josiah, it looked like Judah was possibly beginning to repent of her sin. Zephaniah and Jeremiah were both ministering in Jerusalem about the same time; both calling for repentance, turning from idols, and turning back to God. This prophecies tell of God’s coming judgement on all the world; God will seek out those who think he will do nothing. God is going to use another nation to punish Judah, and the picture is clear of how they will be sought out above. There is not any escaping the judgement day of the Lord, either in the past, or in the future; all will stand before Him that day.

It worries me that as a world we too have become complacent. We have religions teaching that God blesses those that have great faith; we have religions coming together, blending to the point of no absolute truth; we have lost our spine in Christianity for absolute truth. We are showing evidences of no reverent fear of God; we are watering down and weakening the truths of God to appeal to all, and not offend to any. Are we becoming like the church of Laodecia in the book of Revelation? Are we becoming neither cold or hot in Christianity? The strong words that Christ uses as warning for that church should put us in fear of the Lord. Revelation 3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Would the term complacency not fit into the description of the Laodecian church also? Lukewarm is a term that indicates laziness, bending to conform as not to take action; conforming as not to offend; taking a stand for your faith would indicate your either hot or cold. Lukewarm would mean you don’t care enough to believe it matters, to you, or possibly even to God. That surely would mean that you don’t fear Him, or truly know him. Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

 
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Posted by on December 26, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Psalm 147 (NIV)

Psalm 147 (NIV)

1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. 6 The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp. 8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. 10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man; 11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. 12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise your God, O Zion, 13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. 14 He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. 15 He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. 16 He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. 17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blast? 18 He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. 19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. 20 He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws. Praise the LORD.

 
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Posted by on November 28, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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