2019, Discernment, Gifts of the Spirit, Wisdom, Word's of Wisdom

Under Attack

As I was praying in the spirit and reading my Bible this week, the Lord revealed certain things to me about spiritual warfare. He put some words on my heart as a word of knowledge for all believers as I was spending time with Him. Here is what was put on my heart:

There has been a war brewing in America and in the world for years!
This is the greatest and most lethal war in the history of all creation.
It is not a war of flesh and blood; it is a war between the principalities and powers of good and evil.

There is so much going on today in cultures and current events.
But we want to blame our leaders for the problems.
Don’t you know Gods Word says this war is not flesh and blood?
It is against the principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Sadly, many believers want to spend their time watching the news and voicing their opinions.
While as believers we need to voice our opinion for righteousness in this nation, but this war also needs to be fought.
But not many believers are willing to fully commit and put on the whole armor of God.

Sadly, many believers want to attempt to serve God, while still serving the devil full-time.
Jesus even told us that we cannot serve two masters. Make up your mind!
More believers follow witchcraft, mediums, and much more.
There are more witches out there today than ever before.

But why won’t His people put on the full armor of God, and do spiritual warfare?
Why aren’t we taking a stand in this war?
He called each believer to do more than just say the sinner’s prayer!

Believers are too scared to take a stance for the true Word of God.
We are too worried about offending someone or being politically correct.
God doesn’t care if His Word offends someone. His Word is a sharp two-edged sword!
He wants people who care about being Biblically correct.

He is sick of the carnality in the church today. Did you forget what Paul wrote in Corinthians?
Why aren’t more churches speaking the truth on marriage?
Why aren’t more churches condemning the war on gender?
Why are less and less ‘Christians’ not advocating for what He perfectly forms in the womb?
Why are you so scared? He doesn’t give believers a spirit of fear, but He gives us one of love, power, and a sound mind.

Why do many churches forget the power of the Helper He left us?
The Power of the Holy Spirit is what will equip us to do true spiritual warfare.
Put away your denominational eyes and read your Bible.
The only way we can do spiritual warfare is by praying the Holy Ghost.
The church today is dehydrated from the Holy Ghost!

If we want to fight this spiritual war, then we need to know and live Biblical truth.
If we want to fight this spiritual war, then we need to always be praying in the Holy Ghost!
Where is your personal time invested? In Him or the world?

2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Healing, Inspiration

Putting Away Fear

Today I want to talk about how to deal with fear as a believer in Jesus Christ. I looked in The Barbour’s Bible Dictionary and it has two definitions for fear. The first one is an emotion aroused by danger or risk. The second definition of fear is used as respect or reverence to God. We should strive to be God-fearing people, but we should not be emotionally fearful of the circumstances of life and this world!

God-Fearing People

So, what does the Bible say about fear? Let’s look at what the Bible says about being God-fearing first. Deuteronomy 6:13 (NKJV) tells us, “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him and shall take oaths in His name.”. Additionally, Psalm 33:8 (NKJV) tells us, “Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.”. So, everyone is to be God-fearing, but what does that mean? Well, Proverbs 9:10 (NKJV) tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”. So, when one is God-fearing it is the start of wisdom. Wise men and women of God fear the Lord and are humble.
To be God-fearing you must be humble and hate all sin and evil. Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV) says, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”. To be God-fearing you must put away the lust of the flesh because the lust of the flesh leads to death! 1 John 2:16 (NKJV) says, “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”.

Are You God-Fearing or Flesh Fearing?

So, my next question to you is do you want to be a God-fearing Christian, or do you want to be so consumed with your circumstances and the things of this world? You cannot be both, otherwise, you are double-minded! Of course, fear will come naturally to all of us from time to time. If we want to walk in the fullness of what God has called for each of us, then we must put away our fears! We are only to fear God and nothing else! It is time that Christians stop worrying so much about earthly things and start learning how to fear God!

What Our Identity in Christ Says About Fear?

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”. I think many people need to speak that over their lives every day, especially when the enemy comes to attack. If you are truly a born-again believer, then why are you worrying so much about your health, finances, family, and job? We should not be walking in a spirit of fear! We need to be walking in a spirit of power, love and sound mind. Time spent worrying about this and that is lost time with the Lord. You could spend an hour worrying and thinking about how you will pay that bill. But why not spend that hour in prayer, worship, or simply reading the Word?

What About Circumstances?

Lets look at the next verse, 2 Timothy 1:8 (AMP) says, “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or about me His prisoner, but with me take your share of suffering for the gospel [continue to preach regardless of the circumstances], in accordance with the power of God [for His power is invincible]”. We should not be afraid to tell others about God. We should continue preaching the Gospel regardless of our circumstances. The power of God is so powerful that He has given us a spirit of power, love and sound mind!

How to Deal with Fear?

It is time that believers learn how to tap into their spirit man and walk in the power, love, and sound mind that God has given us. How do you do this? How do you put away your fearful spirit, and walk in the God-given spirit of power, love, and sound mind? The first thing is to get the Word of God into you and speak it over your life. Also, spend time praying in the Spirit. I want to encourage you when you go to pray in the Spirit, ask God to let the Holy Spirit do intercession for you to help you put away your fear, and anything else in your life hindering you from walking in the fullness of what God has called you to do. I’d encourage you to make time for this, leave an hour and let the Holy Spirit make the intercession for you. Often, we don’t always know what is stuck deep down inside of us causing our problems, but the Holy Spirit does. So, we need to let Him pray for us. Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV) tells us, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”.

Final Thoughts

So, I’d like to challenge you to the question of if you are a God-fearing believer, or are you still fearful of your own circumstances? I want to encourage you to give time for the Holy Spirit to make intercession for you, and breakthrough will come! If we can learn to yield to the Holy Spirit in our lives, then we will begin to see drastic changes take place!

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Gifts of the Spirit

Keys on Truly Seeking God

In this post I am going to discuss Acts 13:1-3, I am only covering three verses out of the Book of Acts, but God revealed several key points during this study on the importance of seeking God. There are some very important keys that every Christian should be applying daily to their life along with reading the Word.

A Divine Calling

Acts 13:1 starts off by telling us that there was a group of teachers and prophets at the church of Antioch. Verse two tells us that as they were worshiping God, and fasting the Holy Spirit spoke to them and told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for a divine work God has called them to do. In the next verse, as they were praying and fasting, they laid hands on Saul and Barnabas and prayed over them before sending them away to what God had called for them to do. Acts 13:3 (AMP) translates it as, “Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them [in approval and dedication] and sent them away [on their first journey].”. It tells us that the teachers and prophets laid hands on Saul and Barnabas in approval for the work of ministry they will begin, and dedication to that calling. Many times, when a new minister is ordained, a pastor certifying the new minister will often lay hands on them and pray over them. This is something you might see at an ordination service. This is something very important because it is one thing to just hand someone a piece of paper certifying them to be a pastor, but it is another thing to lay hands on them and pray for them. This should also be a reminder that we need to be praying for our pastors, and other people in the ministry field daily for God to give them wisdom, knowledge, and strength.

Fasting

If you look at Acts 13:1-3 you will see that they were not only praying and worshiping God but that they were fasting. My pastor calls fasting the ‘F’ word in Christianity. This is very important for every Christian to do if you want to truly seek God. Now keep in mind, if you have any medical condition, please consult with your doctor first before trying to fast. But it is always encouraged to start off small, such as skipping a mid-day snack or meal. Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness when He was tempted by the devil. Luke 4:2 (NKJV) tells us, “being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days, He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.”. Jesus was very vulnerable during this time being without any food for forty days, but He still did not fall into the temptation of the devil. He continued responding to the devil what scripture said. This is one important way to deal with the attacks from the enemy, which is to declare what the Word of God says.

Worship

Another key that is shown in Acts 13:1-3 is that they were worshiping God. Many Christians just worship God when they are in church on Sundays. We are to spend time worshiping God as much as we can, not just once a week. John 4:23-24 (NKJV) tells us, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”. We are to worship God in spirit and truth, we need to worship Him with our full heart. Worship is to be personal with you and God, not just what the words of the song are. We not only need to sing along to other worship songs, but we need to sing our own personal song to Him. Psalm 150:6 (NKJV) tells us, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”.

Praying in Tongues for Personal Edification

Another key that I want to talk about is prayer. The teachers and prophets were praying, fasting, and worshiping God in Acts 13:1-3. The church in the Book of Acts was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Now it is important to note that there are four different types of tongues mentioned in the Bible. These are:

  • Tongues for a sign to unbelievers (public ministry)
  • Tongues for interpretation (public ministry)
  • Tongues for personal edification (private time with the Lord)
  • Tongues for intercession (private time with the Lord, and when praying over someone)

I have covered these in detail in a previous post, in this post I want to cover tongues for education. 1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV) tells us, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit, he speaks mysteries.”. When we speak in tongues, we speak mysteries to God, these include promises in His Word and His plans for our lives. 1 Corinthians 14:39 (NKJV) tells us, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.”. No Bible-believing church should forbid speaking in tongues, we should all be seeking the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. If the church you are in does not encourage you to speak in tongues for personal edification and/or not encourage you to seek all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, then you are in a dead church. Churches without the Holy Spirit are powerless! Some of them just have salvation, which is important, but how can believers truly build up their faith as the Bible says? The answer is reading the Word, personal worship, fasting, and praying in the Spirit. Jude 1:20 (NKJV) tells us, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”. Keep in mind that Jude is the next to last book in the Bible, this right here cancels out any false doctrine that condemns speaking in tongues.

How Important is God to You?

So how much of God are you seeking? Are you seeking Him by just going to church, or are you making time every day to seek Him? Proverbs 8:17 (NKJV) tells us, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.”. Lamentations 3:23 (NKJV) also tells us, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.”. We need to diligently seek God daily; we need to have a desire to spend more and more time with Him. There are 24 hours in each day, and 168 hours each week. If you are only seeking God by going to church once a week for a two-hour service, then you are only giving Him one percent of your time. You can’t expect much growth from just one percent of your time. I challenge you this week to record your time with God. Keep track of how much time you spend in the Word, prayer, worship, and even fasting. Try to improve each week until you can get on a consistent schedule.

2019, Book of Acts Series 2019, Discernment, Wisdom

A Word On Hinderances

In this blog post, I am going to wrap up Acts chapter 12. In my previous blog post, we saw an example of how powerful prayer can be. We saw that Peter was pulled out of prison by an angel because of a group of people who came together to pray for him. In this blog post, I am going to address the importance of removing hindrances from our lives.

Herod’s Anger

When Herod and the soldiers noticed Peter was missing from the prison, they searched for him and could not find him. Herod became angry and put to death the soldiers who were responsible for watching Peter. (Acts 12:18-19). In Acts 12:20-22 we see that Herod becomes angry with the people in Tyre and Sidon. The people came to him asking for peace. But Herod denied their request and wanted glory given to himself, rather than to God for the good things that have taken place.

The Death of Herod

In verses 23-24, we see that Herod was struck by an angel of the Lord, and then was eaten by worms. Herod was a hindrance to the spreading of the Gospel during the early years of the church. God sent an angel down to remove the hindrance. Before the angel even came down the people said in verse 22 “The voice of a god and not of a man!”. They were talking about Herod wanting praise from his people when the praise belonged to God. The people here recognized the hinderance. It is so important that we recognize hindrances in our own lives too and ask God to remove them.

Types of Hinderances

I want to talk a little bit more about hindrances because we will all deal with them. These hindrances can be distractions, sickness, financial constraints, and even other people in our lives. Now don’t get me wrong some of these hindrances can be self-inflicted, while at other times they can be the enemy trying to attack you. For example, distractions can be a result of one’s poor time management skills. We all are limited on our time, and we need to be sure we are using our time wisely and making time for the Lord. Maybe you have a financial constraint, it might be caused by poor circumstances that are out of your control, or it could be caused by one’s inability to make wise financial choices.

The Source of Hinderances

We must keep in mind that some of the hindrances in our lives might be the work of the enemy, but we must also be mindful of the fact that we can be our own worst enemy. Not only in our thoughts but in our actions. Dave Roberson once said that the Holy Spirit has one handicap and that is us. We can hinder the work of God in our own lives. Sometimes believers will want to blame everything that goes wrong in their life on the enemy when often it is us who is at fault.

Your Mindset

If you feel that you have a hindrance in your life, ask God to show you the source of the problem. Whether the source of your problem is your mindset, other people, or the work of the enemy. If the issue is your mindset, then you need to get in the Word more each day. Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) tells us, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”.

People Who Are Hinderances

If you have people in your life that are a hindrance to you, ask God to deal with them. God might remove all the contact you have with the person, or God might cause a change of heart on the person. I once was in a relationship with someone who was a hindrance to me in my walk with the Lord. After I got baptized in the Holy Spirit and started praying in tongues God quickly ended the relationship two weeks after I got baptized in the Holy Spirit!

The Enemy Can Hinder Us

Also, we must know that the enemy can hinder us. Paul even wrote about this in 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (NKJV), “Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.”. When God has a calling on one’s life, the enemy will be scared as you step into that calling. The enemy will do everything he possibly can to stop you and distract you. We must know that the battle is already won with the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ.

Final Thoughts

I encourage you this week to ask God to reveal any hindrances in your life. If He reveals anything to you, ask Him to reveal the source and deal with it accordingly. This might include getting in the Word more, making changes in your schedule, or rebuking the works of the enemy. The more time we spend with God, the more we will be aware of His plans for us individually. Once we get to this place, we will see things in our life that are hindering Gods plans for us. So, I encourage you to spend more time with God, ask Him if you are on His path for your life or your self-made path. James 4:8 (NKJV) tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”.

2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Inspiration, Word's of Wisdom

What Is Your Lifestyle?

As I was spending time with the Lord today, I got hit with a word of wisdom. I felt led to share this as it is important for many people to hear regardless of where you are in your walk with the Lord.

The Word I Got

So, you have accepted Jesus as your savior, and maybe you have the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of Tongues.
But what is your lifestyle? Besides making ends meat, what is your lifestyle?

Is it a sport or a hobby that defines your lifestyle?
Is it drawing popularity to yourself?
Is it money, luxury, expensive cars, or other material things?
Is it building up your ego or pride?
Is it an addiction you cannot seem to let go of?
Is it pushing yourself so hard because you think you are not good enough?

What is your lifestyle? Is it one of the things I just listed? If so then there is a problem.
Or is your lifestyle living your life as Jesus did?
If not, then why isn’t it??

Are you seeking Him daily?
Are you listening for His voice?
Are you studying His Word with spiritual eyes or just by someone else’s side notes in your Bible?
Are you worshiping Him out of spirit and truth?

If your lifestyle does not revolve around Him first then how can you expect to grow, and for Him to move in your life?
When is the last time you got down on your knees and cried out to Him for a need, a revelation, forgiveness, or a fresh infilling?

His plan from the beginning of time was to have daily fellowship with you. Not just when you are sick or broke.
If your lifestyle isn’t seeking Him daily, then what are you waiting for?

Maybe you can’t let go of your pride or ego.
Maybe you can’t let go of that pain or addiction.
But if you truly looked to Him daily, you’d understand and see His power at work.

So, what is your lifestyle?
Is it like the people of the world’s lifestyle, or is it set apart?

Final Thoughts

When I got this word of wisdom two scriptures came to my mind, the first one is James 4:8 (NKJV) which says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”. The second scripture that I’d like to point out is 1 Chronicles 22:19 (NKJV), “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy articles of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”.

It is time that all believers truly seek God on a daily basis. Going to church every week and inconsistently reading the Word will not result in much growth. It is time that all believers seek intimacy with Him. By seeking Him, I mean consistently spending time in the Word daily, praying in the Holy Spirit, and worshiping Him. Do you only know God by warming a church pew once or twice a week, or do you know God by seeking Him on a daily basis? You can make as many excuses as you want, but if you really want to know Him, you will do your part and put aside the time for Him.

2019, Baptism of Holy Spirit, Bible Study, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Inspiration, Testimony

Acts 12:1-17 — The Power of Prayer

person praying with bible opened on table

Another Reminder of the Persecuted Church

In this blog post, we’re going to look at two incidents that take place with Herod and two of the Apostles. It has been a few weeks since I addressed the issue of the persecuted church. This blog post is another reminder to continually pray for those in persecution. I did some research and found that in the last year over 245 million Christians are living in places of high levels of persecution. Also, 4,305 Christians are estimated to have been killed because of their faith. Additionally, 1,847 churches have been attacked. I feel that one Christian persecuted is one too many. These numbers are saddening. I encourage you to take some time regularly to pray for the many Christians around the world who are being persecuted.

Herod Kills James

When we look at Acts 12:1-2, we find that Herod had a goal to attack the Apostles of Jerusalem. He starts by killing James the brother of John. In Mark 3:17, James and John are called the Sons of Thunder. It is widely assumed that they were called this because of their temperament. I feel this is a good fact to keep in mind about James and John, it just shows us that God can use anyone.

Peter is Captured

In Acts 12:3-4 we find that Herod then captures Peter to be killed, however, he does not kill him right away because it is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Herod has soldiers’ guard him during the four watches of the night. The four watches of the night were from sunset to 9 pm, from 9 pm to midnight, midnight to 3 am, and 3 am to 6 am. The soldiers would rotate based on these four watches of the night.

The Power of Prayer Shown

In Acts 12:5 (NKJV), the church leads by example as Peter was in prison, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”. This verse should be an inspiration to us to pray for those being persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. After these prayers are given by the church, something amazing takes place! In Acts 12:7-11 we find out that an angel came down and pulled Peter out of his chains and takes him out of the prison. At first, when this happens Peter thinks he is having a vision, but afterward he realizes that this angelic encounter is real. This just goes to show you that the power of prayer has no limit when we fully trust God. I feel that the early church in the Book of Acts had much more faith than what the average American church has today. I feel this because they had some spirit-filled leaders who truly sought God, and this, in turn, resulted in strong spirit-filled believers. This is something we desperately lack in the American church today because many churches want to look at the Bible with denominational eyes rather than spiritual eyes. This results in many denominations that don’t believe in the power of Jesus to set the captives free, heal the sick, deliver people from demonic oppression, and much more! How can we fix America in the eyes of God, when many churches don’t want to acknowledge that the same power the church in the Book of Acts had is available to us today?

The Power of Jesus Sets Us Free!

As I was reading this passage, I was reminded of two other scriptures. The first one is in John 8:36 (NKJV), when Jesus said, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”. Another scripture I was reminded of was Psalm 142:7 (NKJV) which says, “Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me.”. With putting these two scriptures together, we not only need to think of the persecuted church being set free, but also ourselves being set free. The power of the name of Jesus Christ is so powerful, it will set people free from sickness, depression, addiction, and many other types of bondages.

Peter Gives Testimony

In Acts 12:12-17 we find that Peter goes to Mary’s house, and as he knocks on the door a woman by the name of Rhoda answered and was shocked. She was so shocked that she forgot to let him in, she thought that Peter had already been killed, but he was right there at the door. She went and told the others, and they didn’t believe her, they thought it was an angel at the door. When the others came to the door, they were amazed, and Peter told them what happened. He then left and went away to another place so Herod could not find his trail. Peter did what many of us would do if we had that type of encounter, he told others of his testimony. Our testimonies are so powerful and are often a sign to unbelievers. We may not be able to win people over to Christ by only teaching them scripture alone, but when you tell others about what Jesus has done for you, they will want what you have!

Final Thoughts

In my next post, I will wrap up chapter twelve and discuss what happens to the soldiers who were keeping an eye on Peter overnight, along with what happens to Herod. So please be sure to subscribe to this blog! I encourage you to take some time this week and think about what Jesus has done for you in your life and then share it with someone this week. Even if you share it with someone who is a believer, our testimonies also build each other up, along with being a sign to unbelievers. I would also like to remind you to continually pray for the persecuted church and encourage others to do the same.

2019, Bible Study, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Discernment, Gifts of the Spirit

Peter Gives Great Revelation to the Jews (Acts 11:1-18)

The Jews Find Out What Happened

If you have not read my previous blog post, I encourage you to do so by clicking here. There is much information from chapter ten that plays a role in chapter eleven. In the previous chapter, we learned that the Gentiles received the message of the Gospel from Peter. Additionally, Peter had a vision from God that showed that the law of Gentile’s and Jew’s dealings being separated was no longer in effect. The news of Peter teaching the Gospel to the Gentiles eventually spread to the Jews, and they were not too pleased with it (Acts 11:1-3). The Jews felt that Peter was compromising what God’s Word says, however at this point in scripture they’re completely unaware of the revelation he had received from God in his vision.

Peters Defends His Ministry to the Gentiles

In Acts 11:4-17, Peter explains to them what took place in the previous chapter when he went to Caesarea. Peter also explains the vision he had from God, which he had three times. He then explains to the Jews that the vision God gave him was to show that the law of Jews and Gentiles having no dealings was no longer in effect. He also tells them the great testimony of the Gentiles receiving the Gospel message and accepting it. I would have loved to of been there to see the facial reaction of the Jews when Peter told them all of this! In Acts 11:18 (NKJV) we find out their reaction, “When they heard these things, they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”. The Jews were first in silence because of the shocking revelation Peter taught them, then they glorified God. I think all of us who seek God daily can relate in a way to their reaction. Think about when you are reading your Bible, and then you suddenly get hit with revelation knowledge, you might first be in silence re-reading scripture, and then you become excited of what God just revealed to you.

Taking it a Step Further

Let’s look at Romans 10:12-13 (NKJV) which says, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”. Paul is telling us that there is no longer a distinction between the Greek and Jews. He is also telling us that God gives the same blessings to all believers regardless of their ethnicity. This means the same gifts of the Spirit are available to Greek and Jewish believers.

Important Revelation in Galatians

Let’s take this a step further, look at Galatians 6:28-29 (NKJV) which says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”. Paul again is confirming what he told us in Romans 10:12-13, but he is taking it a step further. He is not only saying that your background does not matter, but also your gender does not matter either. All believers regardless of where they come from or their gender have the same seed. This shows us that if we all have the same seed, then God can use anyone, in any way He wills. This also confirms that any true believer can be called into ministry, it does not matter their background or gender. Some people argue the fact of woman pastors because of what certain scripture says, I believe if you look at the Bible in its entirety a woman can be used in ministry just as much as a man can. Can there be women today in ministry who are false prophets? Absolutely, just like there are many men in ministry today who are false prophets. How do we know if someone is truly called to ministry? Well, Matthew 7:16 tells us “You will know them by their fruits…”. There are many men and women in ministry who are very fruitful, while at the same time there are many who are not fruitful. Therefore, I pray that God gives us all a discerning spirit.

God Can Use Anyone!

One last scripture I would like to point out is 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NKJV) which says, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.”. Paul again is confirming that we are all one in the body of Christ, it does not matter your background. I would also like you to keep in mind that in this same chapter Paul also lists the gifts of the Spirit in verses 4-11 when you put this in context it again confirms that all the gifts of the Spirit are available to all true believers. If all the gifts of the Spirit are available to all true believers, then God can use anyone as He wills.

Final Thoughts

This was a rather short blog, post because this expands on revelation from chapter ten, in my next post I will wrap up chapter eleven in the Book of Acts. I encourage you to take some time before you begin reading your Bible and ask God to open your spiritual eyes and ask Him to reveal to you a fresh revelation. You will be amazed at what you will learn!

Important Announcement

I would also like to encourage you to check out my YouTube Channel! I will be starting a series soon on the Gospel of John, which is one of my favorite books of the Bible. This series on the Gospel of John will only be available on my YouTube Channel, so be sure to subscribe by clicking here!

2019, Baptism of Holy Spirit, Bible Study, Book of Acts Series 2019, Christianity, Gifts of the Spirit, Inspiration

Acts 10: Peter and Cornelius

In this blog post, I am going to go over chapter ten from the Book of Acts. I will be doing a good bit of paraphrasing in this post, but I will include scripture links for reference.

About Cornelius

Let’s start by looking at Acts 10:1-2 (NKJV) which says, “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment,  a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”. Here we are introduced to Cornelius, after doing some studying, I have a few items I would like to point out about Cornelius.

  1. He was a Centurion which were well known for their strong ability to lead.
  2. He was God-fearing.
  3. He gave alms (money or food for the poor).
  4. He prayed always.

Cornelius’ Vision

If you read Acts 10:4-8 you will find out that Cornelius had a vision from God. Now I want you to take notice that Cornelius is a person who was God-fearing and always seeking God. This prompted God to give Cornelius a vision that will lead him to some great revelation. In this vision God gives him instruction to send men to Joppa to get Peter, and for them to bring Peter back so they can listen to what Peter has to say.

Peter’s Vision

Acts 10:9-15 (NKJV) goes on to tell us, “The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.  In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air.  And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”. There is so much here to take away from Peter’s vision he had, but here are a few points for now:

  1. This vision conflicted with the Jewish food laws of not eating unclean animals.
  2. Peter had this vision three times, and we will see why when we get to verse 28 in this chapter!

God Commands Peter

In Acts 10:17-18, we see that the men sent by Cornelius had arrived and were seeking Peter. Then in verses 19-20, God commands Peter to accept them and to go with them as they request. The men that Cornelius sent begin to talk to Peter and tell him about Cornelius and why he sent them. So, they lodged with Peter for the rest of the day. Then, the following day we see that Peter left with them to go back to Cornelius.  (Acts 10:21-23)

Peter and Cornelius Meet

In Acts 10:24-27 we see Peter and Cornelius meet, and Cornelius shows his willingness to listen to what Peter has to say. Acts 10:28-29 (NKJV) tells us, “Then he said to them, “You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  Therefore, I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”. In these two verses we see not only was Peter’s vision from God in verses 9-15 to show us about unclean meats, but also the rule that Jews and Gentiles cannot associate with each other, was no longer in effect.  In Acts 10:30-33 Cornelius then explains what he heard from God after fasting and shows again that he has trusted in what Peter has to say. This shows us that if we want God to give us revelation, then we must seek Him daily. Cornelius leads by example with seeking God regularly, we also find out that he had this vision right after fasting.

Peter Preaches to Cornelius’ House

Peter then does some preaching to the house of Cornelius in Acts 10:34-43. Below are a few important points from Peter’s preaching:

  1. Acts 10:34: God is no respecter of person. It does not matter what your background is, God can transform and use anyone who is willing to fully submit to Him.
  2. Acts 10:40-41: Peter also talks about Jesus being raised from the dead, but only certain people (chosen by God) were able to witness this.
  3. Acts 10:43: Peter also discusses forgiveness of sins, which is only through believing in Jesus, not a priest in an enclosed room.

The Holy Spirit

In Acts 10:44-45 we see the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles, and the Jews who saw this were amazed. Additionally, Peter discusses water baptism in Acts 10:46-48. He mentions the importance of baptism as a response to converting to faith in Jesus. As we all know water baptism is only symbolic, but it simply represents the old man being done away with and the new man coming forth.

Final Thoughts

There is much to take away from Acts 10, I encourage you to take some time and read the chapter in its entirety. We see two examples of people having visions from God who regularly sought Him. Many Christians have it wrong that it just ends with being born again. (being born again is absolutely required for the start of our walk). The Holy Spirit teaches us all things as promised by Jesus in John 14:26. The Holy Spirit knows all things and leads us into all truth as written in John 16:13 and 1 Corinthians 2:10.

2019, Bible Study, Christianity, Salvation, Testimony, Wisdom

How Do You Know?

Picture of John 3:16 in the Bible.

How do you know that you are truly saved? This is a very important question I felt led to address in this blog post. I was originally going to post another teaching from the Book of Acts, but God led me to post this. We all know that to be saved that you must call upon the Lord and ask for your sins to be forgiven and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart. Many people call this is the sinner’s prayer. When someone truly says the sinner’s prayer it is a very important and special moment of their life. The sinner’s prayer results in one being born again, which is the only way that you can get to Heaven. John 3:3 tells us that we must be born again, otherwise you will not see the Kingdom of God.

The Truth About Water Baptism

Many people confuse the subject of being born again for something else when reading the Bible. John 3:5 (NKJV) says “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”. There is a large denomination of Christianity that believes the water in this scripture means that a person must be baptized in water when they are born, which results in them being born again. The practice of this is nothing but false doctrine straight from hell. If you take the time to study the Bible, you will see that the water it is referring to in this scripture is the amniotic fluids from birth. As we all should know water baptism is only symbolic after one says the sinner’s prayer. However, since water baptism is only symbolic it is not required to enter Heaven, but I strongly encourage it.

‘The Sinners Prayer’

Romans 10:13 (NKJV) tells us, “For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”. Many people will think that saying the sinner’s prayer one time is all you need, and you don’t need to go to church anymore, read your Bible, pray, fast, and worship God. Some people even think that saying the sinner’s prayer gives you a free pass to sin all you want. However, if you know what God’s Word says, when we become born again we should have a strong desire to go to church every week, read the Bible daily, pray daily, worship daily, and even fast (if you can). How can you expect God to work in your life if you only pray to God when there is a problem? We should be praying to God daily regardless if life is going good or bad. If the only time you read your Bible is when you are following along with your pastor in church, then how will you be prepared to proclaim God’s promises over your life when the enemy comes to attack. The sad truth is many people are claiming to be Christian, but the way they live their life is like unbelievers.

The Old Man vs. The New Man

It is time we know truly how Christians ought to be. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NKJV) tells us, “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,  and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”. When we become born again, our sinful habits should begin to dwindle. Our sinful habits won’t go away instantly, but as we seek God continually, they will. Therefore, we need to get the Word in us daily, along with prayer and worship. I accepted Jesus at a young age, however, I lacked getting in the Word. I thought reading through a devotional that had scripture in it and reading Books of the Bible inconsistently was good enough. It wasn’t! Until over a year ago I started getting more deeper into the Word of God, and then God started speaking to me and revealing things to me. I wish at a younger age I would have put down those devotions and would have read the Bible more in its entirety and consistently. Don’t get me wrong devotionals can be great, but you will get closer with God when you read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Don’t just read it once, read it as many times as you can.

Ask God to Search Your Heart

So, my question to you is how do you know you are truly born again? Is it just because you said the sinner’s prayer, or is it because of the transformation that has taken place in your life since you said the sinner’s prayer? This is something we all need to think about because sometimes we can fall into many traps that will hinder us from getting closer to God. I encourage you to take some time this week and ask God to help search your heart and reveal to you what areas in your life that need to be put away for the new creation you are in Jesus Christ.  

2019, Christianity, Inspiration, Wisdom, Word from God

God’s Ways

walking path with sun shining on it in wooded area.

Here is something that God put on my heart to share with you! This is a very short message that was put on my heart from the Lord, but I feel strongly that many people need to hear this!

Often in life when we are asking God for a breakthrough, we are asking it with our human standards. We might want it to happen in a certain way, order, or time. Maybe you are asking for a financial breakthrough, and nothing has happened yet. Maybe God has a different plan for your breakthrough than what you are specifically asking for. Maybe He wants to teach you to better manage your finances first before the breakthrough comes.

Maybe you are asking for healing to take place. You might think it needs to happen instantly or in a certain way based off how the doctors explained your condition. Instead of asking God to heal you a certain way, ask Him to heal you in His way. The healing might not come instantly as we all would like it to. But it might take some time, and over that period God will reveal certain areas of your life that need correcting or even emotions that need healing first. Then as you are seeking Him you will see the healing manifest more and more.

It is time we stop asking God to meet our needs with human standards but in His ways. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV) tells us, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”.  As we are praying for a breakthrough, we must remember that our ways are not God’s ways. Gods ways are always better than our ways. In this life, we are so focused on everything happening instantly and in a certain way.

I encourage you to ask God to reveal to you any distractions in your life that need to be removed.  Distractions on this earth come to us in many forms from poor habits, negative people, and poor time management. Colossians 3:2 (NKJV) tells us, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”. So, is your mindset more focused on the things of this earth or the things of God? If we want to see God working in our lives, we must set our minds on Him and Heaven and not this world.

God Bless!

Zachary Murphy
Evangelical Blogger