November 2020 – Page 3 of 3 – Sonshine's Journal

November 9, 2020

“Acceptance And/Or Rejection”

Acts 6 to 9 The gospel narrative revealed a fickle populace. They wanted miracles but not the Savior. After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples were moved by the Holy Spirit’s power to share the good news but just as with Christ; the message was accepted only as the physical needs were met but rejected when the spiritual needs were noted.

The Greek-speaking Jewish widows raised a complaint that they were being rejected in the food distribution. Out of this predicament, two men will surface; Stephen and Philip. Stephen will debate and preach but is finally rejected by the religious council, stoned, and left to die. Philip will leave Jerusalem and be used by the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel message to Samaria and Caesarea. A chief rejecter, Saul, meets Messiah on the road to Damascus, and his life is forever changed, yet he too is rejected by many.

No matter where God has placed us, we meet fickle people. They desire but do not have because, as James said, they ask amiss. [James 4:2] No matter the circumstance, the gospel message is used to pierce the hearts of men, so they are without excuse. [Rom 1:20]

God asks, do you love me more than these? [John 21:15-19] Will you pick up your cross and follow Him—no matter where it leads.

November 8, 2020

“Salvation in No Other Name”

There is no other name by which men can be saved

Acts 4 Satan is a master at deception and pride. He uses both to place power in the hands of a few and when the sin of pride takes hold, corruption is the end product.

The religious leaders thought they were done with this “Jesus thing” by crucifying him, but now before them stands a man who has been healed by this same “dead” Jesus. They realized that they had no body to use as evidence to refute his claims. They noted that uneducated and unlearned Peter and John had been with this Jesus. They were living proof of “do not worry about how to speak or what to say for what you should say will be given to you.” [Mt 10:19] God provided the religious leaders evidence of a man healed by His power and they could not deny it.

It is only by the grace of God that once again these leaders heard the truth that salvation takes place “not by works of righteousness … but on the basis of his mercy” [Tit 3:5] and “there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved.” [Acts 4:12] Yet, Satan blinds the minds of those who refuse to believe, so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel. [2Cor 4:4] It is because of the evidence they now stand without excuse. They saw and chose to deny it.

When the evidence is before you, will you believe?

November 7, 2020

“Be God’s Witnesses”

Acts 1 “Certainly the sovereign Lord does nothing without first revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.”[Amos 3:7] He revealed his plan to redeem mankind. It began in Genesis and we will see from Acts 1 onward how He used men and women to reveal his plan. God’s plan was to send his only begotten son because: “He does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” [2Pe 3:9]

You and I are to share the good news of [1Cor 15:3] “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.” From small beginnings to the farthest reaches of the then known world to today across all the continents the message went forth. It started using just 12 men and others who waited to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. From that encounter, they became “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” [Acts 1:8]

Beloved, we are the recipients of their faithful witness. They shared and then others shared the news of 1Cor 15’s truth until the Good News traveled to the “farthest part of the world.” May we humbly praise and thank God for those who were the faithful witnesses and may we carry on to be as they—faithful witnesses.

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020

“I AM HE”

Don't be a Caiaphas ...keep your heart soft

John 18 – Three times Jesus in the Garden Jesus answered: “I AM he.” Judas heard it, the soldiers heard it and the outwardly religious but inwardly hard-hearted High Priest Caiaphas heard it. All are without excuse. Caiaphas added to that: “You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.” [John 11] Jesus spoke about the Caiaphas’ of this world: “You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me.” [Joh 5:39 & John 18] Like the Caiaphas’ of this world, the heart will remain hard unless the Holy Spirit pierces it. Pray that your heart is soft to the calling of God.

Caiaphas was privileged as High Priest to lead the nation to God, yet ironically, he had easily put aside the commandment “thou shalt not kill” because Jesus was a stumbling block to his goal of remaining in that role. God allowed the hard-hearted Caiaphas to fulfill his plan; “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16] The scripture reveals that hard-hearted men like Caiaphas will one day bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. [Phil 2]

Truth: One’s “mouth speaks from what fills his heart. [Luk 6:45] Be sure your heart is filled with the truth of the I AM HE!

November 5, 2020November 5, 2020

“Rooted in Jesus.”

John 16, Our world appears to be changing rapidly, and many are asking, is it out of control? Jesus prepared the disciples to know that even as the religious leaders were hostile to his presence and work, it would intensify after his departure. In light of that, Jesus said: “a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God.” Misguided by the ways of the enemy, believers then and now experience persecution for their faith. The question is before us: If persecution were to reach our shores, would we be ready to stand strong?

This is not a new phenomenon. Through the centuries, true believers have been excommunicated, beaten, and martyred; yet they remained faithful to the very end. Paul wrote: “For I can testify that they [the persecutors] are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth.” [Rom 10:2] Will we stand strong or fall away? The author of Hebrews reminds them that Jesus is better than the prophets, angels, Moses, Joshua, the Law, and the sacrificial system. We must remain strong and courageous!

Ironically the persecutors have failed to realize this truth: “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”[Rom 8:28] Beloved know this truth and cling to it and recall the words of Jesus: “take courage – I have conquered the world.” [Jn 16:33]

Therefore, remain steadfast, immovable always abounding in the work of the Lord; [1Cor 15:58] remembering it is not you who support the root, but the root supports you. [Rom 11:19]

November 4, 2020

“Do You Believe This?”

John 11 God’s glory revealed through His divine Son, Jesus Christ, is one of John’s strongest arguments as he presents the gospel message. Fast forward to our present-day; it begins when we come face to face with the very radiance of God as we read His Word. Jesus is revealed as –”the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.” [Jn 1:14] When we realize the truth of that statement, the light begins to dawn in our understanding. Jesus is the Son of God, and He came and did His works that God may be glorified.

How often do we, like Martha and Mary, ask: Where were you, Lord? Why did you not come? Why is this happening? Some he answers, but many questions he leaves unanswered so that we might look and see his glory in the miracles he performs. He alone is the Resurrection and the Life, and “The one who believes in [Him] will live even if he dies, and the one who lives and believes in [Him] will never die.” [Jn 11:25] What assurance this is! What eternal security that is! Thus, we are to be not standing at the tomb wailing but seeking and yearning for his return: Seek the Lord and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually! [1Ch 16:11]

Jesus asked this question: Do you believe “this?” He asks us that same question. Where are you? Standing at the tomb or busy about His business as you wait for His return?

November 3, 2020

“From Blindness to Sight”

John 9 Sometimes we wish we could have been an observer of some incident told by the biblical authors.

In John 9 we meet several people who are spiritually blind as well as the man who is physically blind. Forgetting that blind people really have extraordinary hearing, the disciples ask incredibly insensitive questions: “who sinned, this man or his parents?” This beggar had most likely heard others ask the same question, but now Jesus will give them a lesson they will never forget. His healing will glorify God and reveal those who are also blind spiritually. Crafting a mud pie, Jesus sends the blind beggar to the pool of Siloam to wash. As he removed the mud, the man now saw what he previously had known only by sound.

Standing before the neighbors, the parents and the religious leaders see the evidence — but they want him to deny his healing! His parents even skirted his healing issue out of fear. Ask him; he is of age. Amazingly, before them stands a man physically healed of his blindness, yet they sit in judgment. They had the opportunity to give God praise, but instead, they scoffed.

When Jesus touches our life, there will be scoffers who want us to deny our spiritual healing. How will we respond? Do we give God glory?

Who is the real blind person in this story–the beggar or those who saw the result?

November 1, 2020

John Baptizes the Messiah

John 1 How often do we not “recognize” the Messiah? And so it was that God, after 400 yrs. of silence, sent John the Baptist to reveal Him. John testified: “This is the One!”

The news reverberated around Israel, so the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites in their flowing robes from Jerusalem to find this man they had heard about. They joined the many that walked miles through the desert to find this man everyone was talking about.

“Grumble, grumble, complain! Why are we out in this god-forsaken desert? Why doesn’t he come to the Temple?” On top of that, when they found him, John was dressed in his camel-skin garment, eating locusts and honey, and baptizing others in the River Jordan! This is the man with the answers? With eyes rolling, they stood on the riverbank and peppered him with questions: Who are you? Are you Elijah? Are you the Prophet? Why are you baptizing? John answered no to each question.

Are you at the place of the questioners? Like the religious leaders you too may not have recognized the Messiah yet, but if you are willing to allow God’s Spirit to speak, He will reveal Him to you. Then if you receive Him, you too will become a child of God.

It is just that simple! Recognize Him. Receive Him. He will reside in you!