Tag: delivered
Persecution and divine protection!
Scripture reading for February 8th: Acts 12, Psalm 28, Proverbs 28
Acts 12:1-5 “About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of unleavened Bread. And wen he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover o bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”
Luke records a time of persecution for the new Church arising from Jews trying to stop the believers and Herod using his authority to go after church leadership. At first, it looked hopeless as Herod laid hands on James, the brother of John the Apostle. John was struck down by the sword of Herod’s soldiers. Then, seeing political advantage, Herod had Peter arrested. But it was the feast of Unleavened bread, the time right before the Passover celebrated by the Jews so Herod had him guarded by four squads of soldiers for safe-keeping. God made fools out of them all, unlocking the doors and escorting Peter to freedom while the soldiers slept! Earnest prayers of the church had great power! God protects His people–taking them home to His presence or delivering them from the enemy, giving them strength in each case!
Psalm 28:7-8 “The Lord is my Strength and my Shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my soul I give thanks to Him. The Lord is the strength of His people; He is the saving refuge of His anointed.”
Prayer: Father God, You are my Strength and my Shield and a saving refuge for all Your people. You have blessed me and been faithful to me to deliver me from wicked men and the forces of evil. Thank You for the Church and their prayers for the saints and apostles. You hear and answer. Help me to never show partiality or to go after riches instead of integrity and truth. My heart trusts in You and I am helped daily!
Proverbs 28:20-21 “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.”
The Spirit of Life!
Scripture reading for July 22nd: Romans 7:15-8:8
The Jewish way of life produced frustration for the godly Jew who sought obedience. Paul knew what he was talking about as a Pharisee who was zealous for keeping the law. He knew that the law was holy and he wanted to keep it. But he found that the harder he tried, the more he broke that law that he had set out to keep! His description of this is classic!
“So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Paul’s experience was that of failure and frustration over the sin in his members. If his experience ended here, there would be no hope. ” Thanks be to God–through Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 7:25a)
It was Jesus Christ who set Paul and us free from sin in our members. Jesus was made sin for us and bore that sin in His body on the cross on our behalf. Those that have believed on Jesus Christ are no longer under condemnation or left in a wretched condition of helplessness. The new law of the Spirit of life set us free from sin and death. Now the requirements of the law are met in us through the Spirit. We are free now to live by the Spirit and not be under condemnation from failing to keep God’s law. We know God’s grace and forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice.
Our minds must be set on the Spirit, however. A mind set on the Spirit produces life and peace in our everyday walk. We cannot set our minds back on the sinful nature. If we do that, death will result. The mind that is set on the sinful nature is hostile to God and cannot please God. (Romans 8:6-8) So we see that the Spirit gives freedom from condemnation, frustration, and a feeling of hopelessness. Are you making the choice to set you mind on the Holy Spirit today?