Category Archives: Hearing from God

Blessed, Fear / Reverence for God, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Obeying God, Repenting from Sin, Scripture (e.g. Bible), Seeking God, Teachable, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

What Does It Look Like to Do Right in the Sight of the LORD?

Most of us can identify with Josiah if we think about it. No, we are not king of Judah or another nation. However, for those of us who are seeking to follow Yeshua and live as He taught and lived, we can see ourselves surrounded by traditions of men mixed even within those around us who claim to follow Him. There are all sorts of customs and traditions now which are completely against biblical teaching from society but are embedded even with many churches. Even the traditions of many genuinely well intended people who are trying to follow Yeshua are mixed and mingled.

We see in Josiah a good example of what we need to do. We are not to simply accept things as they are, knowing that is not what Yah wants. We are not to simply add on the proper traditions and instructions on top of the man-made traditions and allow mixing and mingling of how we worship and live. Within the scope of our influence and control, we are to pull down the wrong traditions and turn away from them. We are to return to Yah’s ways! We must seek Him in the scriptures and not just accept whatever current church doctrine or a pastor teaches.  We must test everything and hold to what is good. We must turn away from the rest!

2 Chronicles 34

Josiah Succeeds Amon in Judah

      1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. 2He did right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left. 3For in the eighth year of his reign while he was still a youth, he began to seek the God of his father David; and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images. 4They tore down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and the incense altars that were high above them he chopped down; also the Asherim, the carved images and the molten images he broke in pieces and ground to powder and scattered it on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. 5Then he burned the bones of the priests on their altars and purged Judah and Jerusalem. 6In the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, Simeon, even as far as Naphtali, in their surrounding ruins, 7he also tore down the altars and beat the Asherim and the carved images into powder, and chopped down all the incense altars throughout the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

Josiah Repairs the Temple

      8Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah an official of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. 9They came to Hilkiah the high priest and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the doorkeepers, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, and from all Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10Then they gave it into the hands of the workmen who had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and the workmen who were working in the house of the LORD used it to restore and repair the house. 11They in turn gave it to the carpenters and to the builders to buy quarried stone and timber for couplings and to make beams for the houses which the kings of Judah had let go to ruin. 12The men did the work faithfully with foremen over them to supervise: Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites of the sons of Merari, Zechariah and Meshullam of the sons of the Kohathites, and the Levites, all who were skillful with musical instruments. 13They were also over the burden bearers, and supervised all the workmen from job to job; and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.

Hilkiah Discovers Lost Book of the Law

      14When they were bringing out the money which had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the LORD given by Moses. 15Hilkiah responded and said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan. 16Then Shaphan brought the book to the king and reported further word to the king, saying, “Everything that was entrusted to your servants they are doing. 17“They have also emptied out the money which was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hands of the supervisors and the workmen.” 18Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king saying, “Hilkiah the priest gave me a book.” And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king.

      19When the king heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes. 20Then the king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Abdon the son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, 21“Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book which has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD which is poured out on us because our fathers have not observed the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.”

Huldah, the Prophetess, Speaks

      22So Hilkiah and those whom the king had told went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter); and they spoke to her regarding this. 23She said to them, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, 24thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am bringing evil on this place and on its inhabitants, even all the curses written in the book which they have read in the presence of the king of Judah. 25“Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore My wrath will be poured out on this place and it shall not be quenched.”’ 26“But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD, thus you will say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel regarding the words which you have heard, 27“Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard His words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before Me, tore your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD. 28“Behold, I will gather you to your fathers and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, so your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place and on its inhabitants.”’” And they brought back word to the king.

      29Then the king sent and gathered all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 30The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the Levites and all the people, from the greatest to the least; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.

Josiah’s Good Reign

      31Then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant written in this book. 32Moreover, he made all who were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand with him. So the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers. 33Josiah removed all the abominations from all the lands belonging to the sons of Israel, and made all who were present in Israel to serve the LORD their God. Throughout his lifetime they did not turn from following the LORD God of their fathers.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please raise up leaders on a local, regional, national and global scale to lead Your people back to Your ways and away from the traditions of men for worship. Help each of us to have courage and discernment to lead in our areas of influence and control. Help Your people who are following Your ways increase in number and fellowship together. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Baptism, Church / Body of Christ, Holy Spirit (hearing from God), Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Love, Satan, Share the Good News, Spiritual Warfare

Disciples of Yeshua Are One in the Spirit (Whether Jew or Gentile)

Satan and those who follow him, knowingly or not, love to create division between people. They do not unite but rather divide people and then try to create animosity between groups rather than unity. Of course, there are lots of differences among the people of the earth… we can all see that. Those that seek to create and foster hate try to put rich against poor, divide based on male or female, or divide based on color of skin. These divisions are not of God, and we should not be angry at one another on the basis of these types of differences. The only division that truly matters is between those that are one in submission to Christ and those that have rejected Him.

Galatians 3:28-29 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

For those of us that are submitted to Christ, we should act in love toward others who reject Him, proclaiming the truth of the gospel, unaltered and uncompromised. We do so because we love them. We do not show love to them by pretending they will not go to hell… by pretending they are on the right path toward closeness with God… by pretending everything is ok because that is what they want to hear. We show love by sharing the true message of the gospel of Christ which requires us to recognize and admit we are sinners, turn away from doing things our way, and submit to Christ and start transforming our lives to live His way. Of course, how we share the gospel matters quite a bit!

The good news of the gospel is focused on Yeshua as God among us, dying for our sins so that we, who believe in Him could be reconciled to God.

John 3:16-21

     16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Peter comes to realize in Acts 10, that the message of Yeshua is not just for Jews but also for Gentiles! What wonderful news that Christ does not divide us but reaches out to all of us and offers all of us acceptance and forgiveness by grace, through faith.

Acts 10:34-48

Gentiles Hear Good News

      34Opening his mouth, Peter said:
“I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36“The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— 37you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. 38“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39“We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40“God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, 41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42“And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. 43“Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.”

      44While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47“Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

We must not compromise the message of the gospel of Yeshua. We must proclaim it to all in its entirety as revealed by God.

Are you living your life filled with joy over the knowledge of salvation you have through Christ? Are you continually sharing that with others, even those who may be different than you? If not, why not?

Challenge yourself to change the way you think about people, instead of grouping by physical characteristics, try thinking of them as one race, all made in God’s image… those who have accepted Yeshua as Lord and those who need to hear the gospel and see it lived out without compromise because they are rejecting Yeshua to their own peril. While we can embrace one group as brothers and sisters in Christ, we can also treat the other group with kindness and respect, showing them the joy we find in following our Messiah!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, praise and honor be unto You! You offer forgiveness through Yeshua to both Jew and Gentile alike. Help all who follow You through Messiah be drawn together and not divided. Help us to see past our differences and focus on our common relationship with You! Let us not despise any who have submitted their lives to You! Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Angels, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy Spirit (hearing from God), Obeying God, Prayer, Visions

Righteous Prayer Helps Us Hear From God

Do you want to hear from Yahweh for specific guidance in your life? Do you believe that He communicates with His people on a personal basis? The Bible shows us many examples that He absolutely does communicate with those who genuinely and wholeheartedly submit to Him and transform their lives to follow Him.

Proverbs 15:29

      29The LORD is far from the wicked,
But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Submitting to God to live according to His instructions (righteousness) and seeking Him in prayer are important parts in the life of a follower of Jesus to connect with God and hear His specific guidance for your life. We see both elements present in Cornelius and Peter as we read in Acts 10 as God provides specific direction to both men.

Acts 10:1-23

Cornelius’s Vision

      1Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5“Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; 6he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” 7When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

      9On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10But he became hungry and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. 13A voice came to him, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” 14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” 15Again a voice came to him a second time, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.” 16This happened three times, and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

      17Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having asked directions for Simon’s house, appeared at the gate; 18and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there. 19While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20“But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.” 21Peter went down to the men and said, “Behold, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for which you have come?” 22They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you.” 23So he invited them in and gave them lodging.

We see both Cornelius and Peter respond by receiving God’s instruction and trying to understand how to obey it. They expect to hear from God… they want to obey. So it is also with us. We must live according to God’s word, obeying Him in those things in which He has already instructed us, seek Him in prayer and expect to hear from Him. Why would God speak to someone who does not believe God will speak to them and will just dismiss it as imagination or coincidence? Why would God give more instructions to someone who is not obeying the instructions he or she already has received, either in scripture or in prior communications from God?

Challenge yourself… do you expect to hear from God? Are you already applying His word to guide the details of how you live your life… or are you just blending in with the world? “Going to church” and “Doing what others who call themselves Christian do” are not enough. That is the wrong standard. God’s scripture in the Bible is the only true, unchanging standard to measure against. Particularly the example of how Jesus lived and what He taught is a great place to start! (Hint: If you never meet any resistance or friction, you are either not noticeably living for Christ, or you are not bringing the gospel to non-believers… which is to say not following the commands God has already given us.)

Ask yourself what specific, actionable changes you should make to your life starting today. Be honest and open to recognizing that you are not doing everything perfectly right already and there is more you can do for Jesus. We can all make adjustments to live more like Christ. None of us ever achieve that level of perfection that Jesus did during His earthly ministry, so if you can’t think of any changes to make you are likely fooling yourself.

As a side note, consider “Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be”. As we read further in Acts 10 we will confirm that the vision actually had nothing to do with what food God has instructed us to eat or not to eat as His people. The vision was a metaphor to tell Peter that it was good for him to share the gospel of Jesus with the gentiles. God’s instructions regarding what we should eat or should not eat are still relevant. For a deeper study, review Understanding the Law – What Does It Mean For Us Today?

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, Healer, Kindness / Gentleness, Miracles, Suffering / Adversity

Miraculous Healing in the Name of Yeshua

There is no injury, illness, or disability, too great for our Father to heal and no situation too hard for Yahweh to deal with it. Even after Yeshua departed, the apostles continued to heal many in His name. Always the focus was on Him and never on themselves. It was not their power, but Christ moving through them.

There can be much debate about how often and in what manner Yahweh heals people today, but there can be little debate amongst believers that He is able to heal anything… including death itself.

In the examples we read in Acts 9, we can keep in mind that through these examples of healing, the LORD was bringing about glory and honor to His name and leading people to disciple themselves after Yeshua. There was a purpose to His healing beyond simply helping the individuals involved.

Acts 9:32-43

Peter’s Ministry

      32Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. 34Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. 35And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

      36Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. 37And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. 38Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” 39So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. 40But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.

God does not heal everyone from every serious illness, and we do not always understand why He heals some and not others. We can be assured though, that our loving Creator and Lord hears our prayers and is able to heal anything. He wants us to come before Him with our needs, as the people came to Peter on behalf of Tabitha. He also wants us to trust Him when His answer may be something other than “Yes, I will heal this person as you ask.”

When we do experience a miraculous healing at the hands of God, embrace it! Praise God for it to His glory. Tell others about it. Do not be afraid or intimidated that some or many will not believe. Many did not believe even standing face to face with Yeshua. However, when God provides a miraculous healing, it can not only physically transform lives but spiritually impact many to come to Christ or deepen their trust and relationship with Him.

For those other times, when we do not receive the answer that we ask for, we must encourage one another to trust in God. Let us also draw near to God even in our grief and loss. Let us honor God in all aspects of our lives both on the mountain top and in the valley.  Many can also be led to Yeshua by witnessing how His people experience the type of loss that normally cripples families that do not know Him.  As a related example of believers dealing with suffering (though not illness specifically), consider how Paul and Silas reacted when they were put in prison and how it affected others around them… leading them to follow Yeshua.

Acts 16:22-40

Paul and Silas Imprisoned

      22The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

      25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

The Jailer Converted

      31They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

      35Now when day came, the chief magistrates sent their policemen, saying, “Release those men.” 36And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The chief magistrates have sent to release you. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” 37But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us in public without trial, men who are Romans, and have thrown us into prison; and now are they sending us away secretly? No indeed! But let them come themselves and bring us out.” 38The policemen reported these words to the chief magistrates. They were afraid when they heard that they were Romans, 39and they came and appealed to them, and when they had brought them out, they kept begging them to leave the city. 40They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.

Praise and honor God on the mountain tops and in the valleys. Look to Him for support when you are weak and to celebrate with Him when things are going your way! Pray the Holy Spirit would help you to deal with loss in this way so as to further the Kingdom of God. You will also find that focusing on God rather than our circumstances will help you experience joy and contentment through every circumstance you encounter.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for the blessings You pour out on Your people including examples of miraculous healing. May the glory and honor be Yours and draw many nearer to You. Please help us be faithful even when You do not provide healing, that we would still praise Your name and You would be honored. May You be honored and glorified in all situations, on the mountain top and in the valley. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, He Appears Before You, Obeying God, Submitted / Servant

We Must Be Submitted and Obedient to Be Used by Yahweh

Imagine for a moment, that God told you to go to see someone who had gained a reputation for persecuting followers of Christ. We are not talking about teasing them or refusing to sell them things… but putting them in jail for no reason other than following Yeshua.  It is easy to say we would obey… but it may be very intimidating to do so in truth. What a genuine test of faith!

Ananias was confronted with this very situation when God asked him to go to Saul… who was among the fiercest persecutors of followers of Christ in the early church. Ananias did question God to make sure he heard Him correctly… he was probably quite surprised in the direction he was given. Ananias deserves a lot of credit, for he obeyed God and went to see Saul. Through the eyes of man it must have seemed to be folly, but trusting in God’s instructions and obeying Him allows us to be part of His plans!

Acts 9:1-19

The Conversion of Saul

      1Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.” 7The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus. 9And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

      10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19and he took food and was strengthened.

By trusting God and obeying even what must have seemed to be difficult instructions to follow, Ananias was able to be part of the conversion of Saul from fierce persecutor of the early disciples of Yeshua to the chosen instrument of God Himself to spread the good news of the gospel of Messiah throughout the region and eventually throughout the world! It would be easy to expect many to make excuses not to obey God in this circumstance, but Ananias demonstrated great faith and trust in God. He was faithful and a servant.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, give each of us wisdom to recognize and understand Your guidance and courage to obey even when it seems hard. Help us to be faithful and have a servant’s heart toward whatever You ask of us. Thank you for sending us the helper in the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers and help us to hear and obey your instruction!

Now ask yourself… “Is there something He has already asked me to do, that I have not done yet because it may seem difficult?” Pray for His help again and obey the instructions He has given you.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Angels, Discerning / Judging, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Obeying God

God Does Indeed Create Divine Appointments

Have you ever experienced an encounter with someone that left you amazed at the significance and relevance of the timing of a “chance” meeting? Perhaps you had been praying about a specific topic and “accidentally” bumped into someone who had information that was very helpful in leading you to an answer? Perhaps you were able to provide encouragement and prayer to someone who really needed it at just the right time… or receive it personally from someone else!

Whatever the topic, as followers of Yeshua we should recognize that these “chance” encounters may actually be divine appointments, arranged by God to help His people accomplish His will. The world, and often even many Christians, will tell us God does not work this way, as if He is too busy or concerned with greater matters than the lives of His children! That also assumes that God has limits in what He can handle. He does not! God loves all His children and wants to be involved in our lives. He told us He would help us!

John 14:16

      16“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

Let us explore a Biblical example of such a divine appointment from Acts 8.

Acts 8:25-40

An Ethiopian Receives Christ

      25So, when they had solemnly testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they started back to Jerusalem, and were preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

      26But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, “Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) 27So he got up and went; and there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure; and he had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he said, “Well, how could I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32Now the passage of Scripture which he was reading was this:
“HE WAS LED AS A SHEEP TO SLAUGHTER;
AND AS A LAMB BEFORE ITS SHEARER IS SILENT,
SO HE DOES NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.

      33“IN HUMILIATION HIS JUDGMENT WAS TAKEN AWAY;
WHO WILL RELATE HIS GENERATION?
FOR HIS LIFE IS REMOVED FROM THE EARTH.”

34The eunuch answered Philip and said, “Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?” 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him. 36As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 37[And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”] 38And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he kept preaching the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

Surely Philip would never have thought on his own to go to a desert road at just the right time a particular Ethiopian official was going by on a chariot reading scripture! God sent an angel as messenger to guide Philip and he responded immediately, without second guessing or delaying. He made the appointment on time and accomplished God’s will! We can only speculate how God used the conversion of that Ethiopian official to follow Yeshua to affect others and further God’s kingdom. What we know for sure is that if Philip did not obey and follow God’s instructions, which may have seemed foolish to him at the time, then he would have missed God’s appointment for him.

We should take caution, however, in that we will typically not receive an angel for each mission God sends us on. He sent a helper in the Holy Spirit and it may often be through a prompting from the Holy Spirit, dwelling inside the believers, that we must listen and obey. Always confirm what you think you are hearing from God with the written word of God. God will never contradict Himself. He does not change over time. We must use discernment and wisdom to ensure we accept and guide our lives by God’s direction and not by responding to what may at times be a chance encounter or a trap laid by Satan and his forces of evil.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead and guide me clearly and help me have a spirit and courage to obey quickly. Please use me for whatever divine appointments serve Your purpose to bring honor and glory to You.  Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Arrogance, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Learning To Pray Effectively, Miracles, Miracles, Submitted / Servant, Unteachable / Foolish

Proclaim The Gospel Boldly Despite Intimidation

The religious “elite” or “establishment”, those with the most apparent authority and training, arrested Peter and John, who were uneducated and untrained men, and brought them to testify. The religious leaders, having already killed Yeshua, wanted to subdue this movement that claimed Yeshua was Messiah and had risen from the dead. Surely, Peter and John, who had gone into hiding when Yeshua was arrested and killed, would respond to intimidation and just be quiet. The miracles could not be denied, even by those who chose to reject Yeshua as Messiah.

Before being filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost Peter and John indeed lacked the boldness with which they now stood and proclaimed Yeshua as Messiah. However, now they stood before the full intimidation of the religious leaders and refused to give an inch. They would not back away from Yeshua despite threats toward their own well being… and it amazed their accusers. They had nothing to say in reply to Peter and John.

Acts 4:13-31

Threat and Release

      13Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17“But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 18And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

      23When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,

25who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,
AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

      26‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,
AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER
AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’

27“For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

The religious leaders could not deny God’s power as demonstrated by the healing miracle. The healed man was well known and now stood before them. They never stopped to reconsider what this signified… that they should reconsider their opinion that Yeshua was not Messiah. They continued in their wickedness to try to cover up and subdue the message of Yeshua. These supposed holy men and esteemed religious leaders did not even stop and pray to seek Yahweh’s help in this matter. They had already decided to dismiss the evidence Yah provided and continue like a freight train on the path to denying Jesus. They seem blinded by their own choice… having put their faith in the traditions and power of men. Do not be like these men.

So after they were released, how did Peter and John respond? Did they pray for protection? Did they pray for their enemies to be overthrown? Did they pray for wealth and power to stand up to their enemies? No, no, and no. They prayed for confidence and boldness and God’s continued hand to heal miraculously to His glory in the name of Jesus. Wow. We should be like these men, Peter and John. Having prayed a righteous and powerful prayer, God filled them again with the Holy Spirit and they began to speak the word of God with boldness!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence. Grant us courage to stand boldly for You despite intimidation we may face. Use us for Your glory and honor! Amen

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Courage / Fear, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Heaven and Hell, Holy Spirit (hearing from God), Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Miracles, Salvation, Share the Good News, Submitted / Servant

Proclaim Jesus Boldly, Filled With The Holy Spirit

Are you a follower of Jesus Christ, but find yourself hesitant to speak to others about Jesus Christ? Do you wish that you could change that and take on a confident position of boldly standing up for Jesus? Do not excuse it as “personality” limitations because you have a hard time talking to others or are uncomfortable dealing with conflict. Jesus commands us to proclaim Him boldly to others if we are to expect Him to represent us before the Father.

 [Matthew 10:32-33] 32“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33“But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.

Do not rationalize why it is acceptable to deny Christ by remaining silent. Instead pray for God’s help that you would submit to the Holy Spirit and be transformed for use by God. Then set about building a consistent pattern of Bible study and prayer in your life every day… and watch what God can do.

Consider the example of Yeshua’s disciples. They were largely not public speakers or politicians. They were not clergy or religious elite. As a matter of fact, even after three years of accompanying Yeshua in His earthly ministry, they were scared when the Romans came to arrest Yeshua. Most ran away, Peter followed but then denied Yeshua when confronted even by servant girls among a crowd. After Yeshua died, they hid in a room. Before we judge them too harshly, most of us would do the same, especially without the Holy Spirit living inside of us.

Acts 4:1-12 provides a strong demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit and the transformation He brings to our lives as believers who submit to Jesus. Peter and John now stand boldly before the powerful religious leaders who just killed Jesus. They do not cower or hide. They do not water down the message. They make no excuses for following Jesus. The speak with power, unapologetic in their following of Jesus Christ… fully aware of possible consequences they may face. It is this same kind of faith and boldness that led to thousands being saved through submission to Jesus as their savior and leader.

Acts 4:1-12

Peter and John Arrested

      1As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

      5On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11“He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Do you invite the Spirit to work through you ? Do you speak boldly the truth of the gospel? or do you keep it to yourself to avoid confrontation? Pray for God to transform you to act like the disciples, boldly proclaiming the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of possible consequences to yourself.

[Matthew 10:28] 28“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

It can not be said any more clearly than in Acts 4:12.

12“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

There is only one path to Heaven, one name by which we are saved… the name of Yeshua, who is our Messiah. All other roads lead to dead ends on this earth and to Hell thereafter. Choose your path wisely and stay on it.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, help me and all Your people be bold in following You, even when confronted by those who would try to silence and intimidate us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and give us the words to say and the courage to say them. Give us the courage to act! Raise up the righteous that our nation would turn back toward You! Defeat the wicked and their plans. Open their eyes to their wickedness and Your glory and righteousness. Amen.

Shalom.

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Father / Yahweh, Healer, Help / Serve Others, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Interceding for Others, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Miracles, Miracles, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Submitted / Servant, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

When Yahweh Works Miracles in Our Lives, Let Us Direct the Glory to Him

There are times where the LORD will do miracles through His believers. When He works in and through our lives, let us be sure to put the focus on Yeshua and not on ourselves. Let what He does through our lives, small or great, be a testimony that points to Yeshua.

Acts 3

Healing the Lame Beggar

      1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. 2And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. 3When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” 5And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” 7And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. 8With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God; 10and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter’s Second Sermon

      11While he was clinging to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon, full of amazement. 12But when Peter saw this, he replied to the people, “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this, or why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13“The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. 14“But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. 16“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

      17“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. 18“But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; 20and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, 21whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 22“Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. 23‘And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24“And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, also announced these days. 25“It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘AND IN YOUR SEED ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.’ 26“For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”

We should not be seeking personal glory, but rather to bring glory to Yeshua. I love the example in Acts 3. Peter is bold. This is no longer Peter who denied Christ three times, but Peter inspired by and filled with the Holy Spirit. He gives glory and credit to Yeshua immediately for the healing. He confronts the people publicly about their part in denying Yeshua. Then he leads them through a path to forgiveness through repentance. It is awesome! Praise God He is with us in times like that to lead us in what to say or do.

We may not have been part of a healing like the one in Acts 3, but the LORD has been working in the lives of all believers. What are some things He has done for you that you may not be giving the glory back to Him? What changes might you need to make in your life to give more credit and glory to God?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your Spirit to lead and guide us, to make us bold and give us the words to say in situations like the one in Acts 3. Help us have wisdom and courage to boldly represent You as You work in our lives and those around us. Let all the glory be for You and not for us. Help us to be a light that draws others to You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Holy Spirit (hearing from God), Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Miracles, Mockers, Obeying God, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Promises, Share the Good News, Thankfulness, Wickedness / Evil

Let Those Who Have Eyes See… But Many Dismiss Even Miracles

Preparing for His departure, Jesus had instructed His disciples to wait for the Helper whom God was going to send to them… the Holy Spirit. His disciples obeyed. They were right to trust and obey Jesus Christ, as we should also in our daily lives. When the day of Pentecost had come… God made the event clear to those who believe so they would have no doubt and be encouraged. It was an incredible and dramatic event. Once again, however, we see that those who refuse to believe… who refuse to see truth… can always come up with an excuse to let them turn aside from God even as He demonstrates the miraculous!

Acts 2:1-13

      1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

      5Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8“And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? 9“Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”

What an exciting event. I can only imagine being there to experience it. What rejoicing must have been going on among the believers. Such a dramatic event that God Himself brought the crowds. There was no need for advertising or grandstanding. The believers just obeyed Jesus and let God bring the crowds. Then they seized the opportunity, with God’s power, and engaged the people who came for the sake of sharing the good news of the gospel!

All of our best efforts to bring the people to our podium amount to little if the Holy Spirit is not in it. And if God is in it… no one can stop Him. We are to obey God and pray for His Holy Spirit to move us and those to whom He would have us share the gospel.

Romans 8:26-31

      26In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

      28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

      31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Scripture consistently shows us that there are many who will just reject God and mock His people. In this case they dismissed the entire miraculous event claiming that the believers must be drunk… which is silly even given that people could clearly understand them speaking in multiple languages. Do not be discouraged when you encounter these mockers. It is not a personal reflection on you as God’s faithful follower, but rather a condition of their heart that they are responsible for changing with the help of the Spirit.

The Lord has instructed us in regards to the wicked and the mockers (also scorners). We do not prosper by listening to their counsel or letting them discourage us but rather by delighting in the law of the Lord and focusing on that day and night!

Psalm 1:1-3 1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. 3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.

Be encouraged. Live for God, applying His word to how you live your life. Let the Holy Spirit lead you. Thank God that He has given you eyes to see and ears to hear.

Proverbs 20:12 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made both of them.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank you for the Holy Spirit that you sent to be our guide and helper. Help me to recognize the Spirit and not reject Him. Please guide my words and actions when I am confronted by those who would mock you. Please open the eyes of the spiritually blind so that they may see and know you. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.