Month: November 2022

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Wolves are among us…BEWARE!

Wolves are among us

Acts 20/Titus 1-3 

The work of the despot, Satan, has no boundaries. What he does in one place, he replicates in others. He crafted it in Crete, where Titus was left to establish the church and appoint elders. He was busy in Ephesus, the place of the false god Artemis. There will always be fierce wolves among the flock. They do not spare the flock. “They profess to know God but by their deeds they deny him since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.” [Titus 1:16] “They teach perversions of the truth to draw the true disciples away after them.” [Acts 20:30]  Therefore, be alert and remember Paul’s warnings.

Because of the despot’s work, we must be on guard. We must be a people of discipline. We must be a people of prayer. We must be a people who live by the principles of the Sermon on the Mount: poor in spirit, mourning over sin, meek yet humble, hungering, and thirsting for righteousness so we can impart the Word to the lost.

If you are facing wolves in your midst, step up and bring that wolf to Jesus in prayer. First, pray for God’s grace and salvation. Then, train the flock to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live in the Fruit of the Spirit.

Be alert, fellow believer, for the time is drawing near for His return.

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Jealousy, but why?

Faith is the avenue

Acts 17 Jealousy Raises its Ugly Head

Jealousy means unpleasant suspicion or apprehension of rivalry. Keep that in mind as you wander into the city and synagogue of Thessalonica. Paul is on a mission to present the gospel message to as many as he can, recalling what the Lord told him: you are my chosen instrument, but you will suffer much for my name’s sake. [Acts 9:15, 16]

Paul’s message was to the Jew first, so we find him each time on the Sabbath in a synagogue. Then, using this as his prop, he explains from the OT that this Christ had to die and rise from the dead. The reaction is fierce! Many were persuaded, but the Jews became jealous. But, But why?  

Let’s stop and consider what the Jews held true. They were the chosen ones by God. They had the Torah and the prophet’s words. They were entrusted with the oracles of God. [Rom 3:2] They alone were given the 10 Commandments. Yet, the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 changed all that.  God’s plan is that Jew and Gentile are accepted by faith and faith alone. But old habits and beliefs die hard. When the Gentiles were persuaded to believe, the Jews became jealous, and that jealousy led to a riot.

God is calling all men to Himself. As we seek to minister to all, consider and be sensitive to another’s heritage. Remember, we are but the instrument to share and leave the results to God.

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Salvation by faith alone

The gospel

Acts 15 The Hornet’s Nest

One of the ways the enemy of the church works is to infiltrate and not teach sound doctrine. His plan is to seek, kill and destroy. He seeks out the believers and kills them with false ideas and philosophy, thus destroying their confidence in their salvation. In Antioch, the pharisaical Jews from Jerusalem decided to come unannounced and stirred up a hornet’s nest by saying a requirement for salvation was not heart circumcision but outward circumcision. 

Paul was well aware of Satan’s tactics, having walked this road when as an unbelieving Pharisee, he had also sought to destroy the church. So, after much debate and no resolution, the church sent Paul and Barnabas off to Jerusalem. Along the way, they preached to other Gentile groups the true message of salvation: we are saved not by works of righteousness but on the basis of God’s mercy. [Titus 3:5]. 

After much listening and debate, the Council finalized this truth: salvation is by God’s mercy, not outward works. James, as the leader, wrote a letter outlining what was needed; abstain from worshiping idols, sexual immorality, and don’t eat meat incorrectly killed.

Satan will seek any way he can to destroy. Only believe, and you will be saved. [Rom 10:13] Be on guard, for he seeks to keep us from seeing the truth; salvation is by faith and faith alone. [Eph 2:8,9]

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The Jerusalem Times

Acts 6-9 Imagine being in Jerusalem at the time of this book and how Christianity influenced people’s lives. As our resident reporter, Dr. Luke, tells about the happenings. Who would have thought that discrimination would take place in this environment, but it did. The Hellenist Greek women felt discriminated against. What goes around comes around. The news is still the same today. Then the church chose the first deacons because of the discrimination. 🙁

Next, Dr. Luke tells the tragic tale of the stoning of Stephen and how he asked God to forgive them. So sad to read this, but what a powerful reminder to forgive our enemies just as he did. 🙂

Dr. Luke then turns to Philip’s life. He was one of the deacons that came about from the discrimination suit. He left Jerusalem to go to Samaria, and many came to salvation as he preached the crucified, risen Christ. When the apostles heard about this, they sent Peter and John to check it out. Many had received salvation but not the Spirit, so Peter and John laid hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them. Wonder why Philip didn’t do that. That is a story for eternity, I guess. 😉


Next, Dr. Luke shared about the miracle on the desert road. God sent Philip to teach an Ethiopian eunuch and then the miracle of Philip’s disappearance! I wonder how that eunuch handled that! Wow! Later we will find Philip in Caesarea 20 yrs. later and see that he has four prophesying daughters.

And these are just the headlines! Go and read it for yourself! 🙂

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After the Tomb

The coming of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1-2 Peter references the empty tomb as proof of the deity of Christ. Peter proclaimed: “our forefather David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “[Acts 2:29] Mohammed is in his tomb as are Buddha and others, but where is Christ? He is in the heavens sitting at the right hand of God. If ever there was proof of Christ as the Son of God, it is that. “This Jesus God raised up, and we are all witnesses of it.” [Acts 2:32] Christ lived, was crucified, buried in a rich man’s tomb, which could not hold him, and He was raised on the 3rd day just as He said. And any who call upon His name will be saved. [Acts 2:21]

Then, just as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit arrived and anointed the disciples with extraordinary power both in word and deed. When God sends the Holy Spirit to anoint us, we are also given His power in word and deed, but it is up to us to proclaim that power to a lost and dying world. Hearing the gospel and seeing the anointed power of the Holy Spirit, people are without excuse. [Rom 1:20]

Where has the Holy Spirit anointed you? Are you allowing Him to do His work in and through you?

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A Garden Tomb

I can only imagine

John 18-21 Sin began in a garden, and it was in a garden that sin lost its hold. It was there that Mary met Rabbi Jesus, and perhaps these words of this hymn resonated in her heart: “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses, and the voice I hear, falling on my ear, the Son of God discloses, and He walks with me, and He talks with me, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.”

It was as if the Apostle John was thinking of those words as he wrote about the Garden Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple of Jesus, along with his friend Nicodemus. It was there that they laid our precious Jesus in his deadness, to be incarcerated there forever. Yet. the Word incarnate would not be beholden to that incarceration, for, on the third day, He rose to walk and talk again and to free us from our sins.

“I can only imagine” what it will be like when I meet Him face to face. Will I be like Mary, who ran and told, but they still did not believe? Will I be like Mary, who tarried there in the Garden, saw Rabbi face to face, and heard Him speak?

What will it be like?

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The Promise

The Holy Spirit

John 14-17 Jesus assures the disciples that He will not leave them as orphans but will send them the Helper, the Holy Spirit. He will teach them and recall to their memories all the things Jesus has taught them. He will be their comforter, teacher, guide, memory recaller, and so much more. He is our lifeline to the very presence of God. He will bring to our minds things we have been taught but mostly scripture we have read. As Jesus talked to the disciples, he gave them this promise: ‘Then I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever.” [Jn 14:16] He will bring peace to your hearts in times of uncertainty. When “he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his own authority but will speak whatever he hears and will tell you what is to come.” [Jn 16:13] His whole purpose is to glorify the Son.

What a glorious promise to know that Jesus prayed that God send the Holy Spirit to us and for us. We are to exemplify His Fruit to the lost so that many may receive the promise! Look at the list in the attached photo and let the Spirit teach you what you are lacking so you may be His instrument to lead someone to Christ.

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Seven Words!

May we see Jesus

John 11-13 Jesus brought life to Lazarus, and many believed, but some went to tell the Pharisees. Then, on the last night, Jesus washed the disciple’s feet as an example of humility and servitude. Amid these two stories, some Greeks who had come to worship in Jerusalem find Philip and ask, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” [Jn 12:21] Seven words! Did they want to see Him for healing? Did they want to speak to Him? We never know because John alone inserts that statement, and they are never heard of again.

Recently a lady shared with me that she had lost her faith. So I asked permission to pray for her. And that lone incident reminded me that some people come into and out of our lives. Only God knows the reason, why, when, or where but we must be prepared like Philip and, if need be, find another to help them find Jesus.

Oh, would they desire to see Jesus, and may we be ready to take them to meet Him! So listen carefully to anyone who says this because perhaps they are really saying their heart is ripe for His work in their heart.

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The Tests of Unbelief

Belief is tested

John 7-9 Jesus is tested by the populace, the religious leaders, and the Pharisees. He notes that three things keep people from believing: saying Jesus is good, but He is not God; He is a deceiver; and lastly, the fear of being ostracized. The latter is a reminder of Prov 29:25 “the fear of man is a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord shall be exalted.” To prove his point, John uses the story of the blind man made whole in chapter 9. The disciples want to know why he was born blind: was it sin or something else? Jesus assures them that his blindness was given to bring glory to God.

After Jesus smears mud on his eyes, the man is told to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. Water is not the healing agent, but it is his faith to believe. When he is made whole, the faith of his family, the neighbors, and the religious leaders fail because of one or more of those conditions. Jesus hears and sees all and tests the man by asking him this question: Do you believe in the Son of Man? [Jn 9:35] The last test is given by Jesus by saying, “you have seen Him, he is the one speaking to you.” [Jn 9:37]. At this, he worshiped Jesus.

Dr.Constable notes it like this: First, he called Him “the man called Jesus” (v. 11). Second, he referred to Jesus as a prophet (v. 17). Third, he came to believe that Jesus was a prophet who had come from God (v. 33). Finally, he acknowledged Jesus as Lord (v. 38).

Alas, the heart of his family, the neighbors, and the religious leaders fail on all accounts. Many today walk this road, and their unbelief hinders them from worshiping Jesus. What about you?

[By the way, this is my all-time favorite of Bible stories told by the Apostle John. Can you see why? It helps me see why people reject Jesus so I can pray specifically: Jesus, give me discernment to understand why people reject You. My prayer is that their spiritual blindness is removed so they can see Jesus as the Son of God.]

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One Drink…that changed a life forever

One drink leads to living water

John 4 Jesus “had” go through Samaria, not because of expediency but because His Father had ordained a divine opportunity to meet the Samaritan woman. As she and Jesus interacted, He revealed, as she said later: “who told me everything I ever did.” Leaving her water pot at the well, she told the city residents, and they, too, came to believe; “No longer do we believe because of your words, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this one really is the Savior of the world.” [Jn 4:42]

How often does another believe because they heard our testimony, and then they meet Jesus, and they, too, believe? She planted the first seed, then it took root and became strong.

This story, with its step-by-step detail, offers us the pattern. First, once we meet Jesus, we are to “go and tell.” Secondly, when another meets Jesus, they too can offer praise for their changed heart.

God divinely orchestrates our meetings. God open my eyes and my mouth to proclaim the truth that others may come to believe in Jesus as I do. Truly the drink of living water changed not just one heart but many.

Jesus had to go through Samaria, where do I have to go today to meet another who needs life-changing water?

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