Acts 9
9 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?”
And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”
And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”
11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”
13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
21 And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”
22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
23 When many days had passed, the Jews plotted to kill him, 24 but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, 25 but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.
26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. 27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists. But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralyzed.
34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.
36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.”
39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.
40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.”
And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.
We expect The Acts of the Apostles to be fireworks. Wonders of God. All packed in.
And why? Well ... God wanted that.
Why? Because suddenly Father God has changes occurring and not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Father God felt the Holy Spirit moving to inhabit all believers and He wanted projects completed. News acted upon. There were sometimes 3 visions or dreams in a week. The Spirit was on the move.
Now if we want more of God's Spirit?
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Great! Why isn't this presto magic? Because Jesus said Your will be done. And when this aligns, our will asks the Will of God. When our goodness is declared righteousness in belief. God aligns.
The Joy is finding what God, Father God, Himself, considers Glory.
John 14:13-14
Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Acts 3:16
And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Peter took the time to write down his thoughts on answered prayer in the First Book of Peter, Chapter 4. Peter saw amazing astonishing Acts of God. Peter believed suffering causes us to turn away from sin. Helps us desire to have God's help. Peter's goal is we might live in the Spirit the way God does. Seeing this is the destination of all people.
David felt suffering would actually move Father God's compassion. Solomon said suffering was from God and to be examined. Job wanted to be righteous before God. God is so vast, all were correct. And don't we all love the prayer to be moved by God willingly and not as a horse has to be gathered. Intuitively, all these people of God understood God was moving them along. The New Testament tells us all of this Biblical advice is the Holy Spirit speaking into our hearts. The idea is to go - Home. To our Father. With Heart and Soul open and loving.
Our Abba!
We will be clear with You, for the sake of our hearts, our direction and our prayers.
Blessed are those who believe You. In this belief, we are forgiven and declared righteous in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. We will give hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Being Good with our abilities, we have each received a Gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's astonishing variations of Grace.
Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength God supplies — in order that in every - thing - God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
To Jesus who works today. The blind see. The deaf hear. The ill are cured. Giving faith, hope and Love. Our Abba of Love and Encouragement - To You we lift up our lives, our hopes, for our cares, for the ones we love. The people You have given us. And in lifting up our deeds, our jobs, our chores, with prayer. We know - prayers circle our world. We know, today, all lightning circles the earth entwined., even up to our sun. And in His Love, our prayers go to our Jesus, covering the earth.
We give thanks that as we pray, we cover ourselves, the people, animals, situations we love, our given people, unto all of the Creation - You, Father God, have gone to such lengths to call "Good" eleven times, like the Disciples, 11 times in Good Creation.
Edward, Cal, Steve, Paul, Sharon. Jackson. Ears and good health. Protection. Love Joy and the fulfilling of God's Word. Wisdom. Achieving with gratitude the knack You give us. Increasing what we "know" You give us to do. Gladly.
And to Jesus belongs glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment