Tag: lesson

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Responding with Optimism!

What temperament are you? Are you an optimistic person or are you easily defeated? Today’s post also found here: https://www.facebook.com/bible.org is all about being optimistic even in dire circumstances. How do we live in a world that has gone astray or prepare ourselves for the inevitable persecution? How I love my dear friend JoAnn I. who taught me a wise principle and it is this: learn the lesson God wants you to learn or you may have to do another lap around the wilderness. And when we have learned the lesson we can respond appropriately in any circumstance.

phil 1 began a good work in you2Many of us, if truth be known, are prone to whine and beg God to reverse our fortune when we find ourselves in unfortunate circumstances. We forget that the gospel message is far more important than our comfort and fail to see it as part of God’s plan whether we like it or understand it. Therefore we should be praising not whining! Do those who threaten us see that we are convinced so strongly of a glorious afterlife that they too are convicted to accept Christ? Each of us is part and parcel of the plan that God will one day reveal for “the one who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Isn’t it ironic! Here is Paul in prison and yet God has brought the unsaved to him! Even the imperial guards are chained to him so that they have to listen to him pray! Don’t you just love it when you can see God’s sense of humor in using what the enemy means for evil to turn it to good! This is why Paul can be optimistic about the future. It matters not if he is released or remains imprisoned—what matters is that God’s gospel message is being sent forth. And that is why he pours out his joy for all of these precious believers back in Philippi as his way of encouraging them to stand firm, be blameless and sincere.

Are you optimistic or defeated? Oh Beloved—Pray and ask the Spirit to open your eyes to see God at work.

Also see this here: https://www.facebook.com/bible.org

A fantastic Bible Study tool: https://lumina.bible.org/bible/

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G.A.P. = God Answers Prayer (God opens Prison Doors)

ImageWe have walked alongside Peter from a small fishing village to a mountain top to his fearless preaching in the Temple. We have seen one who denied and yet was restored that he may lead the church in its beginning stages. We relate so much to Peter for his faltering steps are much like ours and our hearts yearn to meet him in glory! We have seen his impulsiveness and say, that is me. We see his denial and we say I have done the same once or twice. We see his love for Jesus when he said “if you are the Master, tell me come to you on the water.” And now in this chapter Dr. Luke will give us one more glimpse of his last days in Jerusalem with the exception of Acts 15. We find Peter in prison having earned the ire of Herod. And once again and as he has done before, Peter falls fast asleep.  Peter it seems never has a problem with insomnia! He slept while Jesus prayed and He slept while Moses and Enoch talked with Jesus on the mountain. He just closes his eyes and falls asleep! This time, to be sure that Peter does not escape, Herod has him chained to guards in his prison. But man’s chains are no match for the saints’ prayers!  

God is pleased with the saints’ prayers and often as he bends his ear to our words his heart is open to receive and answer as we beg. We must be like the Canaanite woman unwilling to give up but to seek an answer. When a brother or sister is imprisoned in some way, do we earnestly beg God for their deliverance according to His will or if truth be known is our mind here and there scattered with many thoughts or do we like Peter fall asleep on the watch? We would do well to take a lesson from these early believers whose very lives surrounded a lengthy time in earnest prayer. We remember what James wrote: “The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.” Would that we be like the early church who pounded the doors of heaven for God to answer and deliver.

When Peter is released by an angelic visitor who had to shake him awake and lead him like a child outside the prison walls, we find him knocking at the door of where the believers were sequestered. He might have muttered: it was easier getting out of prison than getting into Mary’s house!  Continuously knocking and finally gaining entrance the believers were astonished to see how God answered! Beloved, trust in the G.A.P. method…God Answers Prayers.

Optimized by Optimole