The Daily Dose

Eyes on Him             

But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  Acts 7:55

Persecution.  It means to be harassed, oppressed or even punished for what you believe in.  It is a real force coming against today’s church.  Maybe not as much in America as it is throughout the rest of the world.  God’s word actually tells us as believers to expect it and not to be surprised when it comes.

The good news is that you can actually be so focused on God and His goodness that you don’t even notice when persecutions come.  Imagine walking around life carrying the love of God and even though people around you may hurl judgements, criticisms and maybe even rocks, it doesn’t have to phase you.

That’s what happened to Stephen in the reading today.  In Acts six and seven, Stephen (a man chosen by the apostles to serve the people in the first, New Testament church) was so full of the Spirit of God that even as he was being stoned to death because of his faith, the only thing He saw was Jesus standing to welcome him to heaven.  He was so focused on the things of God and His love, that it was the only thing that was important to him, even to his death.

Today I want to encourage you to walk so close to God and be filled up with His word, so that no evil force around you can sway you in your faith.  Become so full of God’s Spirit that your only priority is to honor and glorify Him no matter what is going on around you here in the physical world.  Keep your eyes fixed on Him and not on insults that may come against you in person, on social media or even through gossip.  Also be praying for our brothers and sisters around the world that are being persecuted even to the point of seeing Jesus standing to welcome them into His presence.  Pray for their eyes and hearts to be fixed on His eternal love and goodness!

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 6:8-7:60

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 

9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 

11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 

12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 

13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 

14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 

15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

Acts 7

1 Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

2 And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, 

3 and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you.’ 

4 Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 

5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. 

6 But God spoke in this way: that his descendants would dwell in a foreign land, and that they would bring them into bondage and oppress them four hundred years. 

7 ‘And the nation to whom they will be in bondage I will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and serve Me in this place.’ 

8 Then He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham begot Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot the twelve patriarchs.

9 “And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him 

10 and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. 

11 Now a famine and great trouble came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers found no sustenance. 

12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. 

13 And the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to the Pharaoh. 

14 Then Joseph sent and called his father Jacob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. 

15 So Jacob went down to Egypt; and he died, he and our fathers. 

16 And they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

17 “But when the time of the promise drew near which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt 

18 till another king arose who did not know Joseph. 

19 This man dealt treacherously with our people, and oppressed our forefathers, making them expose their babies, so that they might not live. 

20 At this time Moses was born, and was well pleasing to God; and he was brought up in his father’s house for three months. 

21 But when he was set out, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and brought him up as her own son. 

22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.

23 “Now when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren, the children of Israel. 

24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended and avenged him who was oppressed, and struck down the Egyptian. 

25 For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand. 

26 And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ 

27 But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 

28 Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’ 

29 Then, at this saying, Moses fled and became a dweller in the land of Midian, where he had two sons.

30 “And when forty years had passed, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai. 

31 When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he drew near to observe, the voice of the Lord came to him, 

32 saying, ‘I am the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and dared not look. 

33 ‘Then the Lord said to him, “Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. 

34 I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.” ’

35 “This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. 

36 He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’

38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, 

39 whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, 

40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 

41 And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. 

42 Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets: ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?

43 You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch, And the star of your god Remphan, Images which you made to worship; And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Moses to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 

45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Joshua into the land possessed by the Gentiles, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of David, 

46 who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob. 

47 But Solomon built Him a house.

48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:

49 ‘Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord, Or what is the place of My rest?

50 Has My hand not made all these things?’

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

52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, 

53 who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”

54 When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 

56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 

58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 

59 And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 

60 Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Church Hurt

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.  Acts 6:1

Maybe your are familiar with the term “church hurt”?  Hopefully it has never happened to you personally, but I would guess that most of us have known someone who has experienced it.  It is a sad thing to happen and especially when it is so unnecessary.

I have just recently had a situation occur where I felt that I had inadvertently “church hurt” someone when my real efforts were actually trying to head in the opposite direction.  I felt as if I was on the offensive side of the “church hurt”.  Let me explain. While working with other believers on setting up a new ministry within the church to reach a hurting group in our community, there were quite a few different expectations of how the set up would play out.  Because I was heading up the project, and even though I was trying to incorporate every member of the team’s ideas, there were some that were disappointed and because of that they lost interest in going on with the ministry.  It broke my heart and especially to think that I had hurt these dear souls that so desperately wanted to help those in need around us.  Thankfully after much prayer and some time, God brought the team back together so that we could move forward with the ministry and begin this outreach that He had dropped into our hearts.

In today’s reading, a similar thing was happening.  Because the apostles were basically in charge of the new church, the new believers were looking to them to provide and care for each person as the church was growing.  With the numbers that were coming in, this was an impossible task for them to accomplish.  They could not keep up and it wasn’t long before some groups were offended and hurt.  When they expressed their concerns, the apostles listened and used wisdom to appoint others to serve and care for those needing help as the church grew. It was a supernatural solution and one that kept the church from splitting, at least at that time.

The point is, whether you are on the hurt side or the hurting side, sometime “church hurt” will happen but there is a supernatural solution available.  Don’t just leave without trying to work out a solution and don’t end relationships without seeking first the wisdom of God.

Today I want to encourage you to be aware of those you are doing ministry with.  Recognize differences as opportunities to bring many ideas together to work into a better solution.  If your ideas are not readily accepted, don’t get upset or quit the team.  Stay the course and be faithful in what God has you involve in right now.  If you are genuinely mistreated, you can still be the bigger of the relationship and try to talk things out in a grown-up way without getting emotional.  Seek the wisdom of God and when you grow through differences, you will be a valuable asset to the mission that He has called you to.  Realize that ministry is not about you, you are simply there to serve in any way possible.  Ministry is about others so next time you are focused on your hurt feelings and disappointments, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what is most important in the situation. He will give you wisdom and insight and you will experience His peace no matter what the outcome brings.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 6:1-7

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 

2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 

3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 

4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 

6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Gifts of healing

To another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:9

The gift of healings is simply the supernatural provision of divine health.  Again, these are the Holy Spirit’s gifts, and the gifts of healings is plural because He does it more than once and with more than one person.

God created our bodies to heal.  Much of our healing is a natural process.  For example, if you cut your finger, you clean it, cover it and within a day or two, it heals up so that you can hardly notice there was ever a wound.  However, there are issues that can require a more serious form of healing.  Most people’s first response to this type of ailment is to seek medical assistance.  Thank goodness for those in the medical profession, but it is important to recognize that they are trained in and practicing medicine, they are not healers.  The Holy Spirit has the power to heal, and He does heal.  The gift of healing is available to be receive by all.

I have experienced the gift of healing in my life a few times, probably more than I realize since I pray often and heal up quickly.  However, a particular instance that was especially noteworthy was when my youngest son was born.  I was quite sure he would be born with jaundice since my older son had been.  The day after he was born, I let the doctor know that I thought he was looking jaundice that morning.  To me he looked pretty bad.  Much worse than my older son did when he was born.  The doctor thought that I was probably overreacting until he went to check on my baby.  He came back with the news that he was severely jaundiced and immediately placed him under the beli-light lamp which is the treatment for the issue.  He did not improve in the next couple days, and I had to leave the hospital without him.  By day 5 I was beginning to really be concerned that he wasn’t improving.  I had been praying for him, but finally I prayed through.  Meaning, I prayed until I had the peace of God that everything was going to be ok. 

The next morning, I got up early to get ready to go to the hospital for another day away from my family to be with my baby.  I called ahead to see if he had improved overnight, but the news was not good.  I had resolved that I was just going to trust God to get him well enough to come home no matter how long it took.  When I got to the hospital, I went to the room where he had been staying.  He was in a room by himself so the nurses could keep a close eye on him.  When I walked in, his little bed under the lights was empty.  I looked at the nurse with concern and said “where is he?”  I thought they had taken him out for more testing.  She pointed to the opposite side of the room and said: “He’s already to go home.”  I looked and he was all wrapped up with his things packed and ready to go.  I said, “But I thought he wasn’t well enough yet” She told me the doctor had come in and the blood count had dropped significantly that morning and so the doctor released him to go home.  Glory to God!  It was a miracle.  I remember how it felt as I exclaimed “Praise the Lord!”  I was so overwhelmed with God’s goodness and love!

There were many times when my husband and I joined hands and stood against the enemy and prayed for healing and the Holy Spirit came through.  He has enough power in Him to heal every time.

Psalms 103:3 say Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name.  He forgives all your inequities, and He heals all your diseases.  God is not trying to keep His healing from us, He wants to give.  We only need to ask and receive.

Today I want to encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to heal anything you may be going through.  Pray for His healing on those you know are suffering and believe He will heal them.  Put your faith out there to receive the gifts that the Holy Spirit has for you.  He wants to give us all His gifts, It is up to us to desire them.

Earnestly desire the best gifts. And I will show you a more excellent way. 1 Cor. 12:31

Today’s Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 4-9

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

The gift of faith

To another faith by the same Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:9

As believers and children of God, we walk by faith and not by sight each day.  The Christian life is defined by the faith we have that our Father in heaven will watch over, care and provide for us as we trust Him with our needs from day to day. Romans 12:3 tells us that God has given each one of us the measure of faith. All of God’s people have been given the same amount of faith and it is up to each individual to use and exercise it to grow in life.

The gift of faith mentioned in today’s verse is something different than our day-to-day faith.  When we are born again, we are saved by grace through our faith.  The gift of faith is a supernatural impartation of God’s faith for confidence in a specific situation.  It is a knowing or an unwavering belief that God is going to intervene in a situation, and everything is going to work out ok.

The gift of faith can show up in situations such as when given a bad report from the doctor.  Even though a person hears what the doctor says, they have a supernatural peace and knowing that God is going to bring them through the situation to victory. 

This happened recently in my own family.  At the beginning of 2021, my husband, Jack began to worry about his job and how long he was going to have it.  He is working on a construction site that was slated to be a 2-year project when he stepped into the position.  At the beginning of the second year, he began to be focused on what was going to happen next.  It actually seemed to be the responsible thing to think about, but then it turned into a preoccupation and worry that began consuming his thought life.  He needed supernatural intervention.  We began to pray and take hold of the situation with God’s help and leading.  We believed that God had led us to this place and that when it was time to move on, He would open the next door.  Still, there was that nagging of what if it doesn’t happen or we miss that opportunity?  Finally, after a time of stepping aside for prayer and fasting, a supernatural peace came on Jack.  He no longer talked about it or even thought about it.  He just continued to do his job and he had the assurance on the inside that God was taking care of it just as He has always taken care of us all our lives.  Even when the end of the job came, he was able to take three stress free months off to get caught up on some things that he wasn’t able to while working long hours.  Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a call came with a new opportunity.  He wasn’t even looking yet, and God brought in the perfect fit for him for the next season of our lives.  Many times, this has happened in my own life when God has given me a scripture or phrase to hold on to, but this time He just gave us His peace!  What a precious gift!

The gift of faith was given to Paul when he was arrested and to be taken before Caesar.  He didn’t know if he was going to make it there or be killed along the way.  However, God assured him that his mission was to stand before kings and proclaim the good news of salvation.  That was all Paul needed to trust that he would safely arrive at his destination.

Today, I want to encourage you to consider any area in your life that you may need the gift of faith for a specific concern.  Ask the Holy Spirit to intervene in that situation and to give you the gift of faith for the peace of mind to know God is taking care of it and everything is going to be ok.  You may not see the solution for days or even months, but step into that place of peace and knowing that God is willing and able to take care of all your troubles.

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, Acts 23:11-22

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:

2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Acts 23:11-22

11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

12 And when it was day, some of the Jews banded together and bound themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.

13 Now there were more than forty who had formed this conspiracy. 14 They came to the chief priests and elders, and said, “We have bound ourselves under a great oath that we will eat nothing until we have killed Paul.

15 Now you, therefore, together with the council, suggest to the commander that he be brought down to you tomorrow, as though you were going to make further inquiries concerning him; but we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

16 So when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their ambush, he went and entered the barracks and told Paul.

17 Then Paul called one of the centurions to him and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to tell him.”

18 So he took him and brought him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me to him and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you.”

19 Then the commander took him by the hand, went aside, and asked privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?”

20 And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire more fully about him.

21 But do not yield to them, for more than forty of them lie in wait for him, men who have bound themselves by an oath that they will neither eat nor drink till they have killed him; and now they are ready, waiting for the promise from you.”

22 So the commander let the young man depart, and commanded him, “Tell no one that you have revealed these things to me.” 

Something New

And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”  Acts 5:38-39

This scenario has shown up a lot in history and obviously it happened many times in the days of the first church.  A dynamic speaker or charismatic evangelist comes on the scene suddenly and draws a large number of people to them.  Most times, it only lasted for a short while, then they were never heard of again.  When something like this does happen, there is often a lot of talk and even concerns from those looking on, but rarely if ever is there an arrest that takes place.  Unless of course there is embezzling or stealing going on.  Still, when these individuals rise up, there seems to be the same outcome and then life just goes on.

The situation in today’s reading was a little bit different because the Holy Spirit’s power was at work.  God was expediting the growth of the church and filling them with His power so that the message of the gospel could spread quickly throughout the whole earth.  No matter what the religious leaders of that day did to try to hinder that work, it just seemed to flourish and grow. There were arrests, threats, beatings and warnings, but nothing could stop them. Finally, someone spoke up with wisdom.  A Pharisee named Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law and highly respected by all the council, asked for a private meeting with out the apostles in the room.  What he suggested made perfect sense and allowed peace to come into the situation instead of stress and tension.

In short, Gamaliel said that there had been many that tried in the past to be great leaders and rebels, but after they were gone, their following just dispersed and the sect was never heard of again.  Then Gamaliel gave a warning to leave the Christians alone because if the church was not of God it would come to nothing like the rest, but if God was behind it, there would be no success in trying to overthrow them because they would actually be fighting against God.

This makes perfect sense and should be our response in today’s world.  When we see someone gaining fame in the church that doesn’t seem quite right to us, we should turn that over to God and let Him handle the situation.  If God is behind it, it would not be right to fight against Him anyway.  But if God is not there, the ministry will dissolve and those that are following will disperse, just like they have throughout the ages.

Today I want to encourage you not to get distracted with seemingly popular preachers and those drawing great crowds.  Instead, just keep away and leave them alone.  If the plan or work is of man, it will fall, but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it and you will even be fighting against God.  Certainly, not a position that anyone wants to be in.  Pray for those you know who seem to be sucked into the crowd and also for the speakers themselves.  God will sort it all out and, in the end, you do not have to look foolish or even say I told you so.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 5:22-42

22 But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 

23 saying, “Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!” 

24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 

25 So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 

28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 

30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 

31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 

32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

33 When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. 

34 Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while. 

35 And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 

36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 

37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 

38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 

39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”

40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 

41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 

42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Word of knowledge

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:8

Yesterday I wrote about the first part of 1 Corinthians 12:8 and today I want to move on to the second part.  It is the second in the list of Holy Spirit gifts and it is the word of knowledge.  The word of knowledge gift is simply defined as knowing something specific without having learned it by natural means.

Again, Jesus operated in this gift when He talked to the women at the well in John chapter 4.  He told her some specific things about her life that he would have no natural knowledge about without the Holy Spirit’s help.  I would like to make a side note here that if Jesus needed to rely on the Holy Spirit, how much more do we need His help to reach the world.  I know many would argue that He was God in the flesh and of course He knows everything, but Philippians 2:7 tell us that He emptied Himself to take on the form of a servant and the likeness of men.  He walked this world as a person just like you and me, only He did it perfectly, with the Holy Spirit’s help.

Another example of the use of the word of wisdom is in Acts 9, when the Holy Spirit gave the disciple Ananias the address to the house where Saul was staying.  He said go to the street called Straight to the house of Judas to find Saul of Tarsus there.  The GPS doesn’t even get that detailed.  Ananias was given a word of knowledge so He could go minister to Saul before he was called Paul.  Ananias was not a pastor or a teacher, but he was a Christian.

The importance of the word of knowledge is to minister to someone about something God is doing in their life.  It is a confirmation to the unbeliever or new believer that God does actually know who they are and He wants them to turn to Him and trust Him.  God wants His people to be able to operate in these gifts by the Holy Spirit’s direction to talk to people that He is drawing unto Himself.

Today I want to encourage you again to talk to your Heavenly Father about the Holy Spirit’s empowerment in your life.  Read the scripture and pray for revelation concerning the gifts.  Open your heart to receive anything the Spirit of God wants to show you and trust that He will lead you in the path of rightness.

Pray a prayer something like this:  Heavenly Father, I want to be an effective witness for You in this world and I want to be a vessel that You can move through to reach people far from You.  Empower me through Your Spirit to hear and know the way to touch lives and let people know You love them, and You know who they are and what they need right now.  I put away my fear and preconceived ideas and I open up my heart now to anything You want to teach me.  Help me to be ready to receive Your direction and move as the Your Spirit leads.  I ask this in Jesus Holy name, Amen.

Today’s scripture reading: John 4:1-26

1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John

2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),

3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee.

4 But He needed to go through Samaria.

5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”

8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.”

17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.”

Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’

18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”

19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.”

21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.”

26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

Word of Wisdom

For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12:8

The gift of a word of wisdom is a message that someone gives to another person of a future event or a solution to a current situation in their life.  The word of wisdom is a specific gift and not to be confused with the wisdom of God that He gives to all those who ask that is written in the book of James. (See James 1:5)  It is a sharing of what will take place soon or can be a solution to a dilemma that someone needs the answer to.

Jesus used the gift of the word of wisdom when He gave the great commission.  He said in Luke 24:49 – “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”  Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit was coming.  The disciples obeyed the words of Jesus, but they had no idea what was really about to happen or even if anything would happen.  Jesus spoke in the wisdom of something that would happen not far off in the future.

There are many examples throughout the New Testament of the Holy Spirit using the gift of a word of wisdom through His people.  It actually comes in the form of a phrase or couple of sentences.  In Acts 4, Peter used a word of wisdom when Ananias and Sapphira lied to him about their giving.  In Acts 27, Paul used a word of wisdom to encourage the crew in the middle of a storm on a ship.  John brought a word of wisdom in the letters to the churches in the book of Revelation.

You can ask for these gifts and the Holy Spirit knows the exact thing that you need for the place you are needing it.  Verse 31 of this chapter encourages each believer to desire or ask for the gifts to flow in our lives and the Holy Spirit will show the way.

Today I want to encourage you to talk to your Heavenly Father about the Holy Spirit’s empowerment in your life.  You don’t have to be a pastor or a teacher to operate in His gifts, just a witness to those that need to know the good news of salvation.  Jesus promised that signs and wonders would follow those who believe not those who are trained. (See Mark 17:17-18) If you are unsure that the Holy Spirit wants to flow through you, ask Him to make it plain and clear either way.  He will lead you into all truth, you can count on it.  In fact, Jesus promised He would. (See John 16:13)

Today’s scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,

10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

In one accord

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.  Acts 5:12

I have heard people talking about why they didn’t need to come together with other believers in a formal setting such as a weekend services or small groups.  They often say things like: “I like to worship God in my own way” or “I feel God’s presence most when I am out in nature by myself.”  Sometimes the reason is because they do not feel comfortable with other people or do not like to be in crowds.  While it is okay to worship God when you are alone or in the middle of nature, there is a reason for coming together regularly with believers and being in agreement.

In today’s reading, there is some insight into why coming together is so important and that reason is because of the power of agreement.  The passage starts out by saying that they were all in one accord or in agreement as they came together.  This is one of the key components to why the Holy Spirit was able to move so powerfully at that time.  Because the church was brand new, there were no divisions or denominations to cause disagreements among God’s people.  All the believers were eager to meet together, learn more about their new salvation and be vessels for the Holy Spirit to flow through.

The power of the Holy Spirit is still flowing today and as we come together in agreement, we will continue to see more of His power poured out.  We don’t come together in weekly meetings to see if we are going to get anything out of the message or not.  You will get out of it what you put into it.  We must come together with a surrendered heart, eager to encourage others and ready to hear the message that God has for each individual through whomever is speaking that day.  Then, when the time comes to invite people coming into God’s kingdom, we pray out those things while the invitation is being given. 

Today I want to encourage you to get together as often as possible with other believers. Come together in one accord ready to see the Holy Spirit move.  Recognize your part not as a spectator, but at minimum as a prayer participant.  Continue to grow by encouraging those who are there and also those who were not there.  Look for opportunities to serve in some way in your weekend service and then find a small group or bible study to connect with during the week.  The more you come together with God’s people, the more place you are giving the Holy Spirit in your life.  Start this weekend to do your part as you gather together with other believers and watch the Holy Spirits presence increase as you do.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 5:12:21

12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the pe0ople. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 

13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 

14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 

15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 

16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 

18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 

19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 

20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”

21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Check your heart

While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Acts 5:4

Today we are reading about Ananias and Sapphira.  They were a husband and wife that sold some property and then took some of the proceeds and laid them at the apostles’ feet.  They made a plan together to keep some of the money for themselves and give some to the church.  That act in itself is not a bad thing, but what they did was tell the apostles that the amount they gave was the whole amount that they got for the property. 

Why would anyone do that?  Well, at the end of chapter 4, Barnabas came and gave funds that he received from selling property and obviously, it was a big deal or else it would not have made it into the scripture.  It looks like Ananias and Sapphira wanted the attention and the glory for selflessly giving, so they lied about how much they received.  Peter knew by the Spirit of God that they were lying, and he also told Ananias that what they did with the money didn’t really matter but what did matter was their heart was in the wrong place.  Then He told him that he wasn’t lying to the apostles but to God.  I know that the couple didn’t consider who they were sinning against or else they would not have done it.  They imagined that no one would know the truth and that they could look like heroes despite what actually was happening.  The rest of the story is that after Peter called them out, they fell down and died.

This has always been a hard account for me to grasp. Certainly, there have been others since then and before that have held back the truth in a situation.  Yet this is the only place where we see the drastic consequences of a heart posture.  There is an account in Exodus 16 where the people of Israel were complaining against Moses and Aaron.  When Moses addressed the people about it, he said their complaints were against God not them.

God is actively involved in this world and especially with His leadership team.  He takes it very personally when they are complained about, spoken against or lied to.  God knows the heart of every person and He is aware of what is going on behind closed doors.  This is a truth that we should be taking very seriously and even though we may not drop dead instantly like Ananias and Sapphira did, the consequences will be extremely high.

Today I want to encourage you to be honest with yourself and with God.  He already knows what is in your heart, so why try to hide or cover it up.  The best way to handle it is to repent as soon as you notice those jealous and deceptive feelings trying to get in.  When this happens to me, I try to always quickly tell the Lord that I know these thoughts and feelings are not the right way to handle the situation or the direction that I want to go.  Then I ask Him to empower me to overcome and get rid of the lies that are trying to get in.  He is so faithful to help me to continue to resist until His peace comes.  Take steps to be aware today of when your heart may be getting off track and go ahead and get help from Him ahead of time.  Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you when you are starting in a complaining or deceptive direction and then ask Him to empower you not to fall into that trap ever again.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 5:1-11

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 

2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 

4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 

6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 

8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 

10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 

11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

Great Blessing

The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.  Acts 4:33

I have a blessed life!  It is very evident to me.  Not everyone can see it on me, but I know it is there and I continue to see God’s blessings all around me each day.  It is not necessarily in material things, God’s blessing shows up as peace in my everyday life.  In the book of Proverbs there is one definition of blessing.  In Proverbs 10:22 is says: The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.  Again, God’s blessing is not worldly wealth, but simply richness in all aspects of life.  From relationships to everything you put your hand on brings success and abundance in all areas.  God not only blesses with His goodness, He also keeps sorrow from you.  Even though storms may rage around you, when you live your life in God’s blessing, His perfect peace covers you.

Today’s key verse talks about God’s blessing on the first New Testament church.  In fact, it says that they were greatly blessed.  As wonderful as God’s blessing is, apparently there can be a greater amount of it.  Everything that the first church had to go through with persecutions, imprisonment and even martyrdom, it is safe to say they needed that added grace for the harsh times they lived in.  Even while facing the constant tension of wondering who may be the next one arrested, with the help of the Holy Spirit and God’s great blessing, they were able to hold on to the peace of God and maintain the growth of the church throughout all the world.

The passage goes on to talk about where their focus was, and I believe this is crucial to walking in the blessing of God’s peace.  These new believers were focused on taking care of each other and making sure there were no needy people among them.  They all came together and supported one another and encouraged each other every day.  Even amid all the turmoil of the times, they were focused on loving and caring for the church people more than what could possibly happen to them if they were detained.

I can’t help feeling that this could be the reason we do not see and feel more of God’s great blessing on us today.  If we begin to get our eyes on others and off of self, our focus will shift to allow God’s great blessing and peace to enter everyday life.

Today I want to encourage you to open up your life and heart to God’s blessing flow and let the peace of God rule in your heart that adds no sorrow to your life.  Change your focus today from what seems important to you and take on God’s agenda instead.  Begin to notice those hurting around you and discover the many ways you can help.  Then you will open up the way for God’s great blessing to fill your life and your home.  Nothing will be able to distract you or knock you off course and the peace of God will guide your every move.

Today’s scripture reading: Acts 4:33

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 

33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 

34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 

35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 

37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.