God's Vision Has not Boundaries!

Blessed Sunday to all on this beautiful and sunny day. It's about 65 degrees and sunny. Very pleasant for February. Waine is on the golf course enjoying his friends. I am going to the gym, hallelujah! We are on the count down to the Jenkins-Tamori family reunion in Houston over the Easter holiday. Can't wait to see my extended family. I am sure a good time will be had by all.

I am continuing my journey in Acts 12: verses 1 - 25 " It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.  He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.  So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.  The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.  He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the Word of God continued to spread and flourish. When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

This Jewish King Herod was really full of himself. He actually thought himself greater than the God of Moses and the God of Christ. He really thought he had power over death and life for God's anointed. I am sure many who read this passage think it is symbolic or a fairy tell. I am the kind of Christian who believes the Bible literally. When Christ talked in parables He told you He would be doing so. When the Bible gives you an account of things that happened, they really happened! Herod was trying to kill the early Christian church, one disciple at a time. Herod actually thought he could control the spread of the Good News by persecuting and killing the early Christian leaders. Not so. God had a purpose for Peter and it was not yet finished. Even though Peter was in jail, the jail couldn't hold him! The Lord sent an angel to free Peter and then escort him out of prison. God's Vision is never altered or hampered by men. The only person who can control God's vision for your life or my life is God and me. If I am doubting or lack faith the time table for my deliverance can be altered by my thinking and lack of faith. The timetable may be altered but the plan never is! God will smite your enemies for you and has for me. He will move folk out of the way so that YOUR WAY is cleared. This is accomplished all through your faithfulness and reliance on the Word of God and His will for your life.

If you have Herod's in your life, don't look to them for salvation or relief. Instead look within to the throne of grace so that your life can be fulfilled. Never fear those that can harm the body. Fear the God that can affect both your body and soul.  Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie

Are You Standing in God's Way?

Good morning to all on this wintery day in February 2014. Waine and I are I Thomaston. We visited the Orlando tribe last weekend for a short visit and I am finding that the little cherubs leave little time for reflection.  They are full of life, vin and vigor; Waine and I delight in all of our grandchildren and hope to be remembered as grandparents that loved them. We had another storm come through Georgia last week. The ice storm was not has bad as the one two weeks ago but the affect was the same. People did not want to venture out and school has been closed since last Wednesday. Waine and I are prayerfully expanded the practice into another region of Georgia. Please pray for t his venture and uplift us when you have us on your heart.

I am continuing my journey in Acts chapter 11 verses 1-30, "The apostles and the believers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the Word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Starting from the beginning, Peter told them the whole story: “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was.  I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’  “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. “Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.  He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So if God gave them the same gift He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?”  When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the Word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,  and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.   During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.  One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. " Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

What a BEAUTIFUL passage. The beginning of Spreading the Good News to all the world through the disciples that Christ chose. God through Christ took 11 men and spent time with them so that they could be changed and then inspired to continue His work of salvation long after the death and resurrection of Christ. He, the Lord, was able to use them because they (the disciples and other converts) had turned their hearts and thus their lives to Christ. They were not perfect; they had real human flaws as you can see from this chapter. The Christian Jews questioned why uncircumcised people were being given the gift of eternal life. These Jews were still steeped in the tradition of the Law and yet God was able to use them because they had surrendered their hearts and minds to Christ. It is likewise with us. We are human 100% of the time and God understands that. We have hopes, aspirations and fears; that's our human nature. God does not fault us for our human nature and He knows even before we do how easy it is to fall prey to it. What He works with us on is the miracle of FAITH that elevates us above our human nature. He takes ordinary people and performs extra ordinary miracles all made possible because of our faith. Never doubt the power of your Faith! It is working to effect the change that you have prayed for. You may not see it now but it doesn't mean that your Faith has not set things into motion to bring about the change that God will make perfect through you. Just as David impetuously selected the 5 smooth stones from the river bed to slay Goliath, we too should act impetuously when God's hand touches our heart.

As a devout Jew, Peter was taught not to mingle, not to dine with those who were not circumcised according to the Law of Moses. Yet he too was witness to the new dispensation revealed through Christ. You can speak boldly because this Faith that is talked about in Acts 11 is the same faith that took Christ to the Cross and the same faith that brought Christ from the dead. When you have the opportunity you should share this faith with others so that their eternity can be secured just as the eternity of the Gentiles because of the faith and obedience of this band of 11.

To know Him is to love Him. To love Him is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love You. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie

When God Gives You a Vision, He also Gives You Provision!!

Good morning to all on this wonderful Monday morning. Waine ad I were in Atlanta yesterday; Aleron hosted a Super Bowl party and we went down to be with him. It was 70 degrees. What a difference a couple of days makes. Last week was also the week in which Atlanta and Thomaston was blanketed with snow and freezing snow. All of which are gone. We had a lot of "firsts" at ZOe last week--we had the highest census on Monday - we saw 115 patients; we had the lowest census ever - we saw 4 patients on Wednesday the day after the ice store; and we had the busiest Saturday this week - we saw 30 patients. In all of it God was steady and I thank Him for all His blessings.

I am continuing my journey in Acts 10 verses 1-48, "At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.  Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa. About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”

Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.  As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.  But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. “We are witnesses of everything He did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,  but God raised Him from the dead on the third day and caused Him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. hen Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 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." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.

When God gives you a Vision He also makes Provision! Hallelujah! Jesus came that ALL might be saved. Christ's original ministry centered on the Jewish nation; His disciples were Jewish and their vision of spreading the Gospel up until this time was centered on converting Jews for Jesus. Earlier in this book you saw how God used Saul - Paul to spread the message to the non-Jewish nations however this task was too great for one man. God had a plan though; He provided a Vision to two of His Saints--Cornelius and Peter. One Roman and One Jew. Remember God made the Promise to Peter that on the Rock of His Faith, God would build His church however up until now Peter was very choosy and myopic about who he preached the Gospel to. The Romans were the sworn enemies of the Jews and yet God provided Peter with a Vision of his future as a Preacher to all nations. Likewise Cornelius was a Gentile Roman. Not accustomed to Christianity. The Romans were expressly forbidden to participate in the teachings of Christ, but Cornelius also had a Vision. Both these men became instruments of God through their FAITHFULNESS. They were both obedient to the Vision provided and both were given the Holy Ghost Provision which accompanies the faithfulness of believers. Their faith led others to Christ and the Good News. They both divorced themselves from their fears and entered into a relationship with God so that others could come to know the love and care of God through the sacrifice of Christ.

The sermon we heard yesterday was centered on the 9th chapter of Ezra. Christians are told not to be "unequally" yoked. Most interpret this as not marrying a non-Christian only. The pastor yesterday expanded this by admonishing us to not be unequally yoked to the precepts of this world. We are to be in the world but not of it. We are to provide the world with a glimpse of the supernatural power of God through Christ and most of all the love of God through Christ. If we are just like the world, then how is the world going to see God through us. We are to  be like Peter and Cornelius. We are to be different. This message was particularly meaningful to me. I constantly struggle to demonstrate the Power and Love of God through the ministry of my practice. When I am frustrated with staff and patients it is very hard for me to remain the vessel through which the love of God will shine and    even though its hard, its my mission and part of God's vision for my life and the lives of those He sends to me. Pray for me that this part of my life will be surrendered to God on a daily basis. The His Vision for ZOe will be fulfilled through my obedience.

To know Him is to Love Him. To love Hi is to serve Him. To serve Him is to love you. Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. Nay the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.

Stephanie