Good morning to all on this wintery Sunday morning. Waine and I are in Hawkinsville and its my last weekend here. The weather is in the high 50's which means golf weather for Waine. These little weekends of being away with my hubby are truly special. We get to lie in bed and just talk from A-Z. We get to do that from our own bed now!!
I am continuing my journey in Acts 4 verses 23-36, "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. 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. 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? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed one. 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. They did what Your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness. Stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 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. All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet." Amen and may the Lord add a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
When Christians are of like mind (the mind of Jesus) there is truly nothing that they cannot do. These Christians prayed together concerning the threats made by the Sadducees. They didn't try and take matters into their own hands; instead they gathered together and prayed in one accord just like the Bible teaches us today. Mathew 18:20 teaches us that! Look at the great things that were being accomplished because the Apostles had no fear. They fellowshipped one with another. Shared all they had and the passage states that all were fulfilled. The strength they drew from each other empowered them to be bold in their ministry so that others might come to know the Jesus that they knew. What is ironic is that Peter, who had denied Christ 3 times out of fear, was now proclaiming the deity and sanctity of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Fear is the great tool of Satan. When you live in fear you will not realize the love and power of God. I look at my own life. There are times when I am in sync with God. I boldly proclaim the promises of God and know that I am the child of the King. There are other times when God is not on the throne of my life and fear enters in. Fear then brings doubt and doubt will create havoc. Havoc is a downward spire of one bad decision after another. What brings me forth is the Holy Spirit who never leaves me; He is there to remind me that I need only turn back to my source. Its as easy and as hard as that. I have to stop relying on my "feelings" and turn back to walking in faith. The more steps I take in faith the bolder I get. At times I just quote the promises of God over and over until I am out of the clutches of doubt and havoc. God tells us "not to lean on our own understanding" and truer Words were never spoken.
When is the last time you spoke boldly about your love for God through Christ? When was the last time you just turned away from your own thinking and took on the mind of Christ? Here's praying that you do so today. 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
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