Category Archives: Share the Good News

Church / Body of Christ, Holy Spirit (hearing from God), Learning To Pray Effectively, Seeking God, Share the Good News

Seek His Will with Fasting and Prayer and with Others

Those of us who are true followers of Yeshua are all part of one body. We are to work together for the glory of His kingdom, not fight amongst ourselves to each scratch out our own kingdom by our own strength.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

      12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

It is a wonderful and awesome thing to watch when we see our fellow Christians living out the gifts and purposes that God has created them for and working together as a body of Christ to bring glory to God’s kingdom instead of creating our own selfish kingdoms. We see such an example in Acts 13:1-12.

Acts 13:1-12

      1Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

      4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper. 6When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8But Elymas the magician (for so his name is translated) was opposing them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him, 10and said, “You who are full of all deceit and fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? 11“Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time.” And immediately a mist and a darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking those who would lead him by the hand. 12Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord.

It was through fasting and prayer and ministering to the Lord that Saul and Barnabus received their guidance from the Holy Spirit. They were not busy going about their own pursuits, but rather actively seeking and honoring God when they heard from Him.

A group of believers gathered together in prayer and fasting and laid hands on them to send them on their way. Their mission was one appointed from the Holy Spirit and that was important as they encountered spiritual resistance along the way. It was the power of God that allowed Saul (also Paul) to overcome the enemy who was coming against them… and what a powerful sight that must have been for those who saw it! It was enough for the proconsul to believe in Messiah.

When God appoints you on a mission and you faithfully seek to fulfill it, He will provide the path and power to successfully complete it!

Have you heard from God what your gifts and purpose are? Have you earnestly sought after Him in prayer and fasting? Have you taken time to even ask Him and then listen for a response? Do you study His word and apply it to your life? Do you come humbly before Him in prayer? If not, challenge yourself to start today. Do not wait for tomorrow. Make time for prayer with our Creator consistently as if it is as important as the very physical food we eat… because it is that important.

Do not dismiss to easily the possibility that Satan is coming against you when you try to obey God’s commands and live for Him. Satan may absolutely come against you. With God’s help you will overcome! Gather together with other believers in fasting and prayer to seek God’s guidance and blessing for your life.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help Your people come together in fasting and prayer and in seeking Your will for each of us. Help us to draw near to You in fervent prayer. Help us fully submit 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.

Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Hope, Repenting from Sin, Share the Good News, Submitted / Servant, Teachable, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

The Message of the Cross Is Foolishness to Some

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God!

The Wisdom of God

18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written:

“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE WHO HAVE UNDERSTANDING, I WILL CONFOUND.”

20Where is the wise person? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than mankind, and the weakness of God is stronger than mankind.

26For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29so that no human may boast before God. 30But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31so that, just as it is written: “LET THE ONE WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

We are called to share the good news of the gospel with others, but we cannot accept it on someone else’s behalf.  Do not be hesitant to share the gospel out of fear of personal rejection but recognize that many will not receive the message and may consider it foolishness. Some, however, will receive it and generate a rich harvest for Yeshua through their faith.

Many rejected Yeshua himself, so we should not expect they will all accept us as His messengers.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for bringing me to know You through Yeshua. Thank You that You have chosen me to hear Your message. Help me to boldly share with others. Help them to receive Your message to the glory of Your kingdom. Amen. 

Consider reading The Message of the Cross – Salvation for more information.

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.

Devotions by John, Faith / Trusting God, Share the Good News

Free Offer – with Eternal Benefits! Hurry Before Offer Expires!

We all like “free” offers. It is exciting to get discounts on movies or restaurants or vacation packages! As a matter of fact, when we hear about a free offer, we often race to tell our friends and family and even people we just meet so they can take advantage before the offer expires. We know the offer is not really free, but someone else has paid the price and it is free to us.

How many of us would turn down an offer of a $100 gift card? How many of us would tell all our friends, or even people we just meet at a store how to get the gift card?

God has made us the most compelling offer… and it is free to us, but to truly accept it will change you forever.

Read along in John 3:16-17 [NKJV].

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

It is easy to start taking this offer for granted. Do we still get excited to share it with others as we do when we find a good deal? or do we allow ourselves to get comfortable and only share with those we know already believe? Deep down, perhaps we should ask how completely we really believe if we are not excited to share it with those we are close to. I may not tell someone about a $100 gift card if I am not really sure it is real, even if I am trying to get it for me. I may be more concerned about looking foolish if it does not pan out.

The offer from Yeshua is the best one we will ever receive, and it does have an expiration date. For each of us this offer expires when we do and the price has already been paid, whether or not we accept it.

To learn more read The Message of the Cross – Salvation.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your offer of salvation and reconciliation to You. Thank You for forgiveness of sin. Help me to repent of my wrong ways and pursue Your ways. Help me to have the courage and boldness to tell others about You and this wonderful offer of forgiveness! 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.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Obeying God, Share the Good News, Study the Word

What God Has Cleansed, No Longer Consider Unholy

To understand the Bible clearly, we must be careful to study the context of the situation being recorded and not just read it quickly at a surface level or take everything literally. It is important to look for clues such as how those involved understood and interpreted God’s guidance to them as revealed in scripture. One great example of this is documented in Acts 10.

Many read this scripture and quickly conclude that God was making a change to the dietary restrictions He set before His people in the Old Testament under the leadership of Moses. But if we dig deeper, we see this is not correct at all. One of the clues is to study how Peter understands the situation Himself as revealed in this same scripture.

Acts 10:9-33

     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.

Peter at Caesarea

       And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him. 24On the following day he entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. 26But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am just a man.” 27As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. 28And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29“That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me.”

      30Cornelius said, “Four days ago to this hour, I was praying in my house during the ninth hour; and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments, 31and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32‘Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33“So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

Peter was perplexed by the vision God shared with him. He avoided jumping to conclusions about what it meant even through a literal interpretation of the vision. Instead, Peter carefully considered the events occurring around that same time and came to conclude that the vision had nothing to do with what food we should or should not eat, but rather God’s message was that he should share the gospel of Christ with gentiles in addition to sharing it with Jews. If Peter was quick to jump to conclusions and not careful in evaluating the events surrounding the vision, he could have certainly gotten way off track in following God.

We must carefully apply wisdom, discernment, and patience in understanding scripture to apply it to our lives as well as to clearly understand what God is directing us to do. To “shoot from the hip” or jump to conclusions may result in missing God’s instruction.

Prayerfully seek God’s help and study the Bible carefully in order to follow the path that God has directed for us as His followers. Many can quote the Bible and by applying it poorly end up with the wrong conclusions. Imagine if Peter had turned away his visitors, refusing to go to Caesarea and instead charged off to tell everyone that now it was acceptable to eat anything they want. God’s plans would have been incomplete, and Peter would have brought forth a false teaching that confused many.

Careful thought by Peter, and careful study of the Bible by us today confirms a different conclusion. The dietary restrictions are not the real issue being discussed in Acts 10. The message of Acts 10 is that the gospel of Christ should be shared with everyone, whether Jew or gentile! We take the truth of Jesus Christ to all the world, not just a few!

Do you feel you have received instructions from God specific for your life? Are you patiently and prayerfully considering how to properly apply them or are you sprinting to execute based on your first impression?

Are there any parts of scripture that you find confusing? Are you dismissing or ignoring the seeming conflict or confusion or are you taking the time to really study carefully and prayerfully God’s written word and how to apply it in your life?

We invite you to visit our Study the Word section of our website to get a sample of some very good resources available to help you discern God’s word.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please open my eyes to the truth of Your word. Help me to have discernment and wisdom in understanding and applying to my life.  Help me to dig deeper than just my first impression on the surface of what I read in the Bible. Encourage me to dwell on Your word and not skim it or too quickly assume that what I read just confirms what I already thought was right. Help me to read and study with a critical eye that tests everything to draw me nearer to You. Thank 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.

Discerning / Judging, Encouragement, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Help / Serve Others, Share the Good News

Surely It Can’t Be True That He Is Preaching Christ

Sometimes it is those who were most convinced to oppose Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah) and persecute His followers that have the opportunity to become the greatest disciples. Saul had such enthusiasm to persecute disciples of Yeshua that even the apostles avoided him. They were hesitant to even take a chance to meet him. Give Barnabas his due credit for bringing Saul to the apostles. He saw the change in Saul and was able to bring a new believer with great potential as a disciple to connect with the other leading followers of Yeshua.

Saul, of course, is a wonder to watch in this scripture as well. Once Yeshua opened his eyes to the truth, he realized he already knew all that he needed to in order to prove that Yeshua was the Messiah! Saul had just not allowed himself to honestly consider the evidence of Yeshua as Messiah before his encounter with Yeshua on the road to Damascus. Now, in reflection, Saul clearly sees and can prove to others that Yeshua was Messiah all along!

Acts 9:19b-31

Saul Begins to Preach Christ

       Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” 21All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, “Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” 22But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

      23When many days had elapsed, the Jews plotted together to do away with him, 24but their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death; 25but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket.

      26When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord. 29And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death. 30But when the brethren learned of it, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

      31So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

Keep your eyes open for those you least expect to follow Yeshua! You may have a wonderful opportunity to encourage and support them in their new-found faith, as Barnabas was able to help Saul. We must always at least be open to the possibility of even the enemies of Yeshua repenting and turning to become followers themselves.  Take care, though, to use wisdom and discernment. Barnabas did not blindly accept Saul on a word alone, but based on the fruit of Saul’s life demonstrated by his risking his own life to preach the truth.

What an opportunity! Pray God would prepare you for such a time when the world and even many disciples of Yeshua would tell you to keep your distance… and God wants you to draw near to that person.

Perhaps, instead, as you read this you identify more with Saul… persecuting disciples of Yeshua and rebelling against and rejecting Yeshua? Be encouraged… if Yeshua can forgive Saul and make him a chosen instrument for Yahweh to use in spreading the gospel, He can do so for you as well! Turn from your wrong behaviors and thoughts. Ask forgiveness of Yeshua. Submit to and follow Him in your life, even when it is tough… like Saul, when he started preaching the gospel even to the point of receiving persecution himself. Also, seek out mature followers of Yeshua and celebrate for they are your new brothers and sisters!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to have discernment towards those who claim to follow Yeshua. Help me to encourage and support those who have genuinely turned away from opposing You and are now supporting You. Help all Your people to pull together as a body and support one another in faith and in action. Help us have clarity for who is genuine and who is fraud. 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.

Demons, Faith / Trusting God, Healer, Hope, Persecution / Glorifying God, Share the Good News

Can All Things Really Work Together For Good?

Many who follow Yeshua genuinely and wholeheartedly throughout the ages have faced serious persecution up to and including giving their lives in service to our Lord. Sometimes it is government, a false religion, or even those who claim to be the spiritual leaders of God’s people. Examples of the latter include the Pharisees and Sadducees during Yeshua’s earthly ministry and also the Catholic church for a period of centuries persecuting Bible believing Christians.  At times the persecution can be ruthless and relentless. These are times that we as believers must prepare for by establishing strong foundations in our relationship with our Messiah, Yeshua.

Matthew 7:24-27

The Two Foundations

      24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26“Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Despite the storms we know will come, we can be encouraged that our Lord is in control. He is able to use all things to work together for the good of those who believe… even things that we would never expect Him to use for good.

Romans 8:28

      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.

One such dramatic example is revealed in Acts 8. Saul is ruthlessly persecuting the followers of Christ such that they are scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. How could this possibly be a good thing? God used it to spread the good news of the gospel of Yeshua! Those who were believers and proclaiming the gospel were now scattered to a wider geographic area from which to share the gospel with those who did not yet follow Yeshua.

We can also see how Saul’s zealous nature for God resulted in persecuting Christians, but later was used by God for good to spread the good news of Yeshua widely as Saul became Paul and preached the gospel despite intense persecution aimed at him.

Acts 8:1-8

Saul Persecutes the Church

      1Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

Philip in Samaria

      4Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. 5Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming Christ to them. 6The crowds with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. 7For in the case of many who had unclean spirits, they were coming out of them shouting with a loud voice; and many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed. 8So there was much rejoicing in that city.

Of course, none of us asks for persecution or suffering… but we can be encouraged to remember that God is in control and can use even difficult circumstances to the glory of His kingdom when we love God and follow His commands no matter what our situation and surroundings.

Consider…  what difficult situations have you experienced or witnessed in the past in which you could see God at work? Maybe you did not recognize it at the time, but only afterwards looking back can see His guiding hand at work. Are there any situations you are encountering now that He may be able to use?  How can you serve God in these situations?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to have faith in Your wisdom. Help me to trust in You to use for good even things for which I would never volunteer on my own. Grant me courage and discernment. Help me to find peace in knowing that You are in control. Praise You and Your holy name. 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, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Purposeful / Intentional, Share the Good News, Submitted / Servant

Everyone Who Does Evil Hates The Light

Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. For many, this wonderful evidence of God likely led them to accept Yeshua as Lord, for others it truly helped them grow stronger in their faith, but for others who dwell in darkness… they hate the light and they will rise up to attack those who genuinely stand for God.

John 3:19  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.”

Wicked men, who love to do evil will always come against those who bring the light of Yeshua to the spiritually dark places throughout this world. It is not enough for them to choose to live in darkness, they feel driven to extinguish the light.

Acts 6:8-15  8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. 13They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; 14for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

We must remember and prepare to face persecution when we stand boldly for God and proclaim the truth of the gospel. Prepare by daily study of God’s word in the Bible and through daily prayer time with Yahweh. Ask the LORD to work through You in the power of the Holy Spirit, which is available to us as followers of Yeshua. Prepare for Spiritual battle, for it will come when we stand for Christ. Pray for Yahweh’s help that you stand strong when the persecution comes, as Stephen did. Do not apologize for or water down the true gospel to make it more acceptable to the wicked and worldly… for this would essentially be dimming the light ourselves to blend with darkness and shadow. A dim light is of little use to anyone.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help the righteous stand strong against the wicked. Help the light overpower the darkness and bring honor and glory to Your name. Thank You for Your Spirit and Your word to strengthen us. Thank You for sending Messiah that we may be reconciled to You despite our sin. Help prepare us for any confrontations we may face, even though they likely will not be as severe as what Stephen faced. Help remind us to pray for those who do face that kind of persecution around the world. Amen. 

We encourage you to review the following teachings as part of basic preparation.

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.

Envy / Jealousy / Coveting, Obeying God, Persecution / Glorifying God, Protector / Deliverer, Share the Good News, Strong in Our Weakness

Obey God Rather Than Men

True followers of Jesus Christ have faced persecution since Yeshua came to walk among us in His earthly ministry. In truth it may actually serve at times for an external measure of our personal testimony for Christ. If we claim to follow Christ but never suffer even the slightest bit of persecution or rejection from others, there is likely one of two things happening. Either we have compromised the true message of the gospel and watered it down such that it no longer makes non believers uncomfortable or we are not proclaiming Yeshua among non believers.

When Yeshua and His disciples preached, people were moved in one direction or the other… there is no middle ground. You either accept Yeshua and follow Him, changing your life to be more like His example, or you reject Him as God and probably get tired of hearing genuine Christians keep telling you about Him.  Someone who hears the true gospel of Christ, that we go to hell and suffer for eternity because of our own sinful nature unless we submit to follow Christ, can not accept it as true and then continue to ignore it, changing nothing in their lives. If this message does not move you to change your life… you have not accepted it genuinely and wholeheartedly. You are just going through the motions, or “checking a box” on a checklist. Perhaps you are just following traditions of what your parents did before you… but this will not lead to salvation through Christ.

Because the message of Christ makes people uncomfortable, many will come against you when you live and share a life and message that truly reflects Yeshua and God’s revealed word in the Bible.  We must decide whom we shall obey… will we obey God or men. The disciples faced strong persecution over and over following the death of Christ. All but John ultimately died for their faith in Jesus. John was exiled to an island, Patmos. Acts 5 shows one such example of persecution and how the disciples reacted to it.

Acts 5:17-32

Imprisonment and Release

      17But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” 21Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. 22But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, 23saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” 24Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this. 25But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

      27When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

What a powerful testimony! Imagine yourself in their place… arrested when you stood up to proclaim Yeshua. Then Yahweh sets you free in a powerful way. How many of us would then run and hide? The disciples, filled with courage from the Holy Spirit, obeyed Yahweh and went to a public place where they could be easily found and preached the truth of the gospel of our Messiah!

I pray my Father would prepare me to respond in a like manner as the disciples. I am convinced it requires the presence of the Holy Spirit. We must each pray for Yah’s help in this area so that we would proclaim the gospel boldly in all circumstances. We must also prepare through consistent, daily study of His word.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please prepare my heart to stand firmly for You even when I am threatened by those who seemingly have power or authority over me. Thank You for being our provider and protector. Let me not be easily discouraged from boldly proclaiming the gospel. Please give me the words to speak and the opportunity to speak them. I pray these things also for others who follow You, locally, across my state, across my country and the world. 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.

Demons, Healer, Help / Serve Others, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Kindness / Gentleness, Miracles, Share the Good News

We Are In The World, But Do Not Be Of The World

Consider what is more convincing… to tell someone about Yeshua, our Messiah, and what a difference He has made in your life? or to show them? We often hear the expression that “a picture is worth a thousand words”… and it is true. There is no better way to demonstrate the reality of Yeshua and the grace and forgiveness He represents to change our lives for the better than to live it and live it with other believers!

Acts 5:12-16

     12At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

What is particularly significant in this scripture is that all God’s people were of one accord… aligned and working together in the Spirit of God to the good of the community of believers. Scripture specifically calls out Solomon’s portico, which refers to part of the temple. The followers of Yeshua did not leave the Jewish ways behind them, but simply recognized Messiah had come. They continued participate in activity at the Temple. It was not Yeshua’s intent to create a “new religion”, but rather that His followers would continue to obey Torah and build upon that in recognition that Yeshua was the promised Messiah.

The believers were set apart from the non believers. They were set apart and holy. They did not blend and mix with non believers. God always calls His people to be set apart for His use… separate and distinct from the non believers. God never wants us to be a “melting pot” with pagans for He knows it results in pulling His people away from Him and toward pagan worship of false gods.

As a result of being in one accord and being set apart as a community of believers, there were many signs and wonders taking place among the people. When non believers witnessed these things, they came in multitudes and continued to add to the number of those who followed Yeshua.

Neither illness nor unclean spirits could overcome the power of Yeshua expressed through the apostles.

Another amazing perspective to consider… because the people were set apart and honoring God of one accord… they were held in high esteem even by non believers.  Today, by contrast we see this is not the case, primarily because those who claim to be Christian are many and most do not live a Spirit filled life of victory in Yeshua! They fight and squabble one denomination against another and preach false or watered-down gospels that allow people to feel comfortable living in their own sin rather than recognizing a need to change their behaviors and attitudes to become more like Christ. Many churches change what they teach to accommodate the sin of the people and keep them attending. A timely example is how churches have suddenly decided that homosexuality is no longer a sin against God, despite the scriptures, which speak plainly that it is detestable (the words of scripture, not my words). Instead, many churches say it is fine now… I guess they feel God changed His mind to accept the detestable behavior and sin of the people. Those with eyes to see can, who study God’s word and seek Him humbly in prayer know full well that God’s word calls us to change our sin, rather than letting our sin call us to change God’s word.

The end result is that the world can not tell any difference in the community of those who identify as Christian when compared to the rest of the world… with the exception perhaps of violent Islamic jihad. Churches even embrace many elements of pagan worship such as easter bunny, a Santa Clause that has god like powers and is embraced by people of many faiths, worshipping Mary or other men and women identified as “saints”. Truly it is difficult to show the world a Christian community that is different than the world, because there are so many who claim Christianity and then support abortion, the murder of the unborn babies in the place they should be most safe… their mother’s womb.

For us to show the world what it means to follow Yeshua, we must be set apart from the world and be holy, set apart for God’s use. We must be a community of believers that do not accept the ungodly beliefs of our culture but only rely on the steady, unchanging word of God in the Bible as our guide. We must make choices to act and think differently than those around us. We must not “fit in”. We must be willing to be mocked to stand up for Yeshua and show others what it means to be a true follower of Yahweh.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please strengthen me and my brothers and sisters in the faith around the world to stand apart for You as true followers of Yeshua, unafraid of representing Him by separating ourselves from the pagan ways of the world. Let us rely only on You and Your unchanging word. It is our anchor, to keep us from drifting off course and into troubled waters. It keeps us securely moored in the safe port that is the life of a Spirit filled believer in Yeshua our Messiah. 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.