Acts

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The Holy Spirit leads!

I recalled last time how I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to sing with a couple and I didn’t!

That seems to be one of the great characteristics of the Holy Spirit – to lead you.

He’s not only going to lead you to do something positive but to also lead you to do something that seems negative.

They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. Acts 16:6

I can never emphasis enough that the Holy Spirit is not going to lead you to do drugs or lead you into multiple failed relationships and marriages.

This may cause some discontent but the Holy Spirit is not going to lead you to divorce since the Bible is clear that

the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce, Mal 2:16

But that’s not the purpose of today.

The Holy Spirit forbade the early evangelists from going into Asia, thus sending them more towards Europe.

So in reality this wasn’t a negative movement – it is a positive leading of the Holy Spirit to send the Gospel towards the heart of the Roman Empire, at that time.

Dallas Holm had a song years ago that was called Look for a Window.
The lyrics said:

Hot on the trail of God’s will
And getting warmer still
Got it together this time around
There’s nothing to stop you now

Stopped by the slam of a door
God, what’d You do that for
Sometimes we just don’t understand
How He wants to let us in

When God closes a door, look for a window
Oh look for a window
Don’t stand at the door, there might be a window
Oh look for a window

Responsibilities change
And so do our pathways
One way God shows which way to go
Is to let the old road close

Repeat Chorus

There’s no point in getting down on yourself
God is only point you somewhere else

Please open yourself to allowing the Holy Spirit to lead on what to do today and what not to do today!

Abba, lead me in all ways. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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A Message of Death – A Message of LIFE

“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name?” Acts 5:28

Sinful living and false religions all have a major problem with the word of God – it won’t go away and it won’t be silenced.

Those that commit sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these are determined to end any message that would call their lifestyle sinful.

Of course any government official that lives contrary to the scripture will take offense when a pastor takes to the pulpit with the word of God and preaches against such sin.

The Islamic world has made a remedy for them that dare preach Jesus – death. In countries with high populations of Muslims, they are the majority and with the approval of their governing officials, they can imprison, try, and kill “infidels” that preach the Gospel of Jesus.

High populations of other religions can do the same.

What is unique about pure Christianity is it preaches life, not death! Of course in the message there is the condemnation and death of all that sin,

For the wages of sin is death! Rom 6:23

But the same message is tempered with

the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

It is not a message of purely condemnation of a lifestyle or belief – it is THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION!

Abba, Your name is life. Your way is life. Though the world may choose death, I choose to tell them about Life. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Do Not Preach Jesus!

You may have seen the news on what the city government of Houston is doing.

Some local pastors have been issued subpoena’s to turn over certain sermons about homosexuality and may mention Houston’s openly gay mayor. Of course it is the buzz on Facebook and Twitter.

Houston area pastor’s and minister’s across the state are telling the government has absolutely no reason to bully congregations who are speaking out about what they believe. It’s none of the government’s business.

It seems this started with a new bill that has been introduced that will, among other things, allow men who identify as women to use the restrooms of their choice – and vice versa.

Of course the church would be against that. What person in their right mind wouldn’t be?

But silencing opponents that preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God is not a new thing. It happened in the early days of the church when Peter and John preached in the name of Jesus. In that case the religious leaders caught the apostles,

and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Acts 4:18

But it was too late! The message had been given and

many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. Acts 4:4

That’s the fear of government officials, kings, presidents, senators, congressmen, mayors, despots, tyrants, and dictators – loosing their power and ruling ability to a Higher Power!

They fear the preaching of the Word of God. It convicts of sin and presents the only redemption available to mankind.

Peter said it best.

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

The name of JESUS!

Abba, in Jesus’ name, give the pastor’s and minister’s the boldness to speak Your word! YES&AMEN

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Deceivers and False Christs

Paul, Barnabas, and Mark began traveling from town to town preaching the word of God. Many heard that message and were saved.

Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, Acts 13:6

Bar-Jesus can be translated son of Jesus. He may have claimed some kinship to Jesus Himself.

He was very belligerent towards Paul and Barnabas when it came to their presentation of the Gospel.

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” Acts 13:9-11

Paul rebuked this false prophet and pronounced a curse upon him.

Jesus said,

“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” Matt 24:4-5

For someone to be convinced that a minister or prophet is Christ would mean the deceiver would perform Christ-like miracles and deceive many. His methods and mannerism’s are very convincing.

One thing you must remember – no matter how realistic a false prophet may seem to be, it is not Jesus the Savior.

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.” Matt 24:23-26

Jesus will not return here or there. He is coming back in the same way He left. (Acts 1:9-11)

Abba, I want to be closer to You and know so much about You that I may teach others Your and teach them to recognize deceivers and counterfeits. YES&AMEN

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Get Ready!

Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.” Acts 26:28

Almost carries no weight.

In my lifetime as a minister I have come across people that almost want to get saved.
They do but they don’t.

They like the idea of going to heaven but they aren’t willing to give up their current lifestyle to do it.

It’s like a game of monopoly to them with a “get out of hell” card!
It doesn’t work that way.

Jesus talks about the “almost” believers.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matt 7:21-23

God doesn’t play games. He’s not going to just pat someone on the shoulder and say, “Oh, I’ll let it slide this time!”

The words that Amos told Israel are words that each of us need to heed –

Prepare to meet your God, Amos 4:12

Abba, give me the wisdom to help others prepare to meet You. Eventually, each of us will! In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Cut the little things.

Sin is certainly something that should be cut from your life. Sin will not allow a relationship with God to flourish.

I know many people that won’t give up the vices in their lives despite the fact they say they have been born-again and know Jesus as Savior.
They decide that the things they are doing aren’t really severe enough to be called sin.

But reconsider the covenant God made with Abraham. The procedure of circumcision is really as small matter. It seems insignificant. It’s not like God demanded something totally useful like a thumb or an ear.

There are times the little things interfere more with getting closer to God.

What makes the little things so tough to conquer is the attitude that because they are little, they really don’t matter. It’s the unwillingness to let go of the little things.
I believe that is why God said…

Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer. Deut 10:16

It was Stephen that said,

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” Acts 7:51

Do not resist when the Holy Spirit tells you to cut away some small part of your life. End the stiff-necked rebellious nature that keeps you from growing closer to God.

Abba, circumcise my heart and remove those small things from my life – things I don’t need and that keep me from You. In Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Big Promise

My promises to others are small. I try not to commit to what I cannot do. And sometimes I forget something, so I try to keep notes in my iPhone.

You don’t want to promise what you cannot deliver to begin with. Time and effort work against promises

I know I have broken promises, both intentionally and unintentionally. And promises have been broken to me.

God is the opposite of you and me.

Gen 15:5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”

God’s promises are big. I mean to say your descendants will be as numerous as the stars is a huge commitment. It’s happened! How many descendants of Abraham have there been through the ages – both born naturally and adopted and grafted in!

It’s not the only promise He has made!

Isa 1:18 “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Matt 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Rom 10:13 “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Heb 13:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

1 John 1:7 the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Acts 1:11 This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Rev 22:20 “Surely I am coming quickly.”

Abba, I have yet to see a broken promise from You. I believe them all, in Jesus name, YES&AMEN

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Unlimited Giving

Heb 7:1-2 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,

I admit that tithing was required under the Law of Moses but Abram and Jacob practiced it before the Law demanded it.

Giving to support the work of God is supported by God and by His people.

God doesn’t move backwards but forward; He doesn’t lower the standard but raises it. He didn’t move from the blood of bulls and goats down to the blood of chickens or squeezing blood from a turnip – He moved the standard up and gave the blood of HIS OWN SON!

So if God once demanded 10% from His people, do you think He would now be happy with 5% or 1%?

But you do how you feel led to do! The early church did and they did not limit themselves.
Acts 4:34-for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

But you do how you feel led to do!
2 Cor 9:7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Abba, I don’t want to give just 10%. In Jesus’ name, I want to give all I have for Your service. I want to do it cheerfully. I know Your blessings for me will far out-weigh any anything I can give back. YES&AMEN