“THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS!”

 

Acts 4:5-14                  (ESV)

“[5] On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, [6] with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” [8] Then Peter, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, [9] if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, [10] let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. [11] This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. [12] And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And “THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS”. [14] But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.”

Briefly this morning, the first THEY listed in verse 13 were “The rulers and elders” of The Jews. Basically they were the rulers who had JESUS put to death on the cross at Calvary.  The second THEY listed in the same verse were Peter and John, disciples who were fixing to use words given to them by the HOLY SPIRIT (v.8) to pummel “the rulers and elders”!  When GOD orchestrates a happening, it usually baffles humanity!

In Mark 4:35-41 JESUS had instructed HIS disciples to “LET US GO ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE”!  JESUS proceeded to take a nap.  A windstorm blew up and the disciples were fearful that they were going to die!  They awoke JESUS and HE simply said, “PEACE, BE STILL” ….. and the stormy sea was CALMED.  

In the early morning hours of July 25, 2007, the nurses monitoring my comatose condition called my doctor at home because my blood pressure had tanked?  This was after the administration of an IMMENSE amount of medication over the past two weeks just to keep me alive!  It was as if GOD was telling me almost 19 years later that HE had everything under HIS CONTROL, but HE wanted to RECEIVE THE GLORY from the healing!!!

My physician RECOGNIZED that JESUS had intervened in my medical situation in July of 2007!  He wrote in my medical records on September 25, 2007 “However, he (me) has had a remarkable recovery that could only be defined as a MIRACLE FROM GOD!”  He later told me that he had no issues giving credit where credit was due!  

But do I make it known by my actions that I HAVE BEEN WITH JESUS???  Or do I just assume that people will know what HE had done for me??  The rulers and elders and scribes, “THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS”, and they were befuddled by Peter and John’s words!  When the HOLY SPIRIT is yielded to OL, humanity has to take its place!!!

“THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD!”

 

1 Peter 1:1-2                 (ESV)

Greeting

“[1] Peter, an apostle of JESUS CHRIST, 

To THOSE WHO ARE ELECT exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,  [2] according to “THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD” the FATHER, in the sanctification of THE SPIRIT, for obedience to JESUS CHRIST and for sprinkling with HIS BLOOD: 

May GRACE and PEACE be multiplied to you.”

There has been a vast amount of discussion about whether a person is CHOSEN BY DIVINITY or these people have had THEIR EYES OPENED enough to BEG for forgiveness from THE ALMIGHTY???  During HIS earthly ministry, JESUS spoke TRUTH to “this world”, but HIS MESSAGE was only convincing to the EYES that were OPENED by the HOLY SPIRIT!  

We (THE ELECT) are NOT “holier than thou” because we simply want to be!  GOD, in HIS INFINITE FOREKNOWLEDGE, has ELECTED us to be HIS?!?  One of the most devout BELIEVERS was Saul, later renamed Paul, who wrote in 1 Timothy 1:15 that he was the WORST of sinners!  Yet GOD CHOSE him (Paul) to suffer for HIM because HE had FOREKNOWLEDGE beyond anything that humanity can comprehend?

“THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD” isn’t something that this humble servant can wrap his mind around!  I am so grateful and blessed that GOD CHOSE me BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD (Ephesians 1:4)!!!  There is nothing more to say about HIS selection process!  I am BLESSED to be a part of “THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD”!!!

“THE LORD BESTOWS FAVOR AND HONOR!”

Psalm 84:11-12                 (ESV)

    “[11] For the LORD GOD is a sun and shield;

        “THE LORD BESTOWS FAVOR AND HONOR”.

    NO GOOD THING DOES HE WITHHOLD FROM THOSE WHO WALK UPRIGHTLY. 

    [12] O LORD of hosts,

        blessed is the one who trusts in YOU!”

The WORDS that translators select to enunciate what GOD is trying to say to this brain damaged BELIEVER is very critical to what is HEARD !  The word BESTOW (ESV) is defined “to put in a particular or appropriate place” by one dictionary.  In the King James Version of Scripture, this part of verse eleven says “the LORD WILL GIVE GRACE and GLORY”, as does the 1599 Geneva Bible!  No matter what translation is being read, it is quite obvious that THE LORD WILL GIVE GRACE and GLORY to the one who is trusting in HIM!  

It is quite obvious that not everyone who reads from THE WORD is going to HEAR the same thing as others who read the same passage.  Hearing from THE CREATOR is what makes my heart know that it am “on key” with HIS PLAN for my life!

Whether “THE LORD BESTOWS FAVOR AND HONOR” or “the LORD WILL GIVE GRACE and GLORY”, hearing from HIM is the most precious and satisfying thing I can begin my day with!!!

“CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE!”

 

Romans 9:6-13                 (ESV)

“[6] But it is not as though the Word of GOD has failed. FOR NOT ALL WHO ARE DESCENDED FROM ISRAEL BELONG TO ISRAEL, [7] and NOT ALL ARE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM BECAUSE THEY ARE HIS OFFSPRING, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” [8] This means that it is NOT the children of the flesh who are the children of GOD, but the “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE” are counted as offspring. [9] For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son.” [10] And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, [11] though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that GOD’s PURPOSE OF ELECTION might continue, not because of works but because of HIM WHO calls—[12] she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” [13] As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.””

The DOCTRINE OF ELECTION is one of the most divisive and controversial subjects known to mankind!  An article found during a study of this subject says the following::

“Emphasis on Election and Covenant

The strong contrast between “loved” and “hated” underscores God’s sovereign choice to work through Jacob, establishing the covenant line through him. Romans 9:11 explains that “before the twins (Esau and Jacob) WERE BORN or had done anything good or bad,” GOD  PURPOSED TO FULFILL HIS PLAN of salvation through Jacob. Thus, “hate” is not petty hostility but an illustration of choosing one lineage for a specific redemptive role.”

The belief that GOD “predestined” any person to spend their eternity away from HIM in hell is something that “a loving GOD would never do “…….CORRECT???  But is ANYONE worthy of being CHOSEN by their CREATOR?  Esau was born before Jacob and he was “supposed to” inherit the BLESSING from Isaac, their father!  But the “birthright” was taken away from Esau via “unscrupulous” means of Jacob, AND because GOD said in Genesis 25:23 “the older will serve the younger”!  GOD ISN’T BOUND BY THE PLANS OF MAN!!!

It is “a mystery” to me that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES would CHOOSE a humble servant such as I to be a part of “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE”???  My ancestral background is anything but noteworthy.  My wealth and business acumen is nothing to brag about.  But I AM a “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE”, and that is something to celebrate for ETERNITY!!!

“FOR THE VISION AWAITS ITS APPOINTED TIME!”

 Habakkuk 2:2-3                 (ESV)

The Righteous Shall Live by HIS FAITH

[2] And THE LORD answered me:

    “Write THE VISION,

        make it plain on tablets,

        so he may run who reads it. 

    [3] “FOR STILL THE VISION AWAITS ITS APPOINTED TIME”;

        it hastens to the end—IT WILL NOT LIE.

    If it seems slow, WAIT FOR IT;

        it will SURELY COME; it will NOT DELAY.”

Humanity doesn’t possess the ability to alter THE LORDS TIMELINE!  Imagine if you will the disciples and others who were tortured and killed by “the enemy”, and most of them were of the opinion that THE LORD would return for HIS CHURCH, probably during their lifetimes!  

As a Believer that GOD IN FLESH is going to come back for us, I am of the opinion that our FAITH will become very costly in the near future.  In Matthew 24:44 JESUS HIMSELF said to HIS Disciples “Therefore you also must be ready, for the SON of MAN is coming at an hour you do not expect.”  ALL OF THE DISCIPLES were martyred for their FAITH, with the exception of John, and he survived being dipped in a pot of boiling oil!!!  

We need to be prepared for troubling and trying times as we are getting closer to HIS RETURN!  Will it be in my lifetime when JESUS comes back?  Many, including HIS Disciples, have died expecting JESUS to come back ANY DAY!

“FOR STILL THE VISION AWAITS ITS APPOINTED TIME” is not always going to be TRUTH!  One day THE FATHER will say IT IS TIME and JESUS WILL COME BACK FOR HIS CHURCH!!!  I pray that your ETERNITY is secured by THE ONLY ONE WHO IS ABLE???

“WRITE THE VISION!”

 

Habakkuk 2:2-3                 (ESV)

The Righteous Shall Live by HIS FAITH

[2] And THE LORD answered me:

    “”WRITE THE VISION”;

        make it plain on tablets,

        so he may run who reads it. 

    [3] For still the vision awaits its “appointed time”;

        it hastens to the end—IT WILL NOT LIE.

    If it seems slow, WAIT FOR IT;

        it will SURELY come; it will NOT DELAY.”

THE DREAM, VISION, or PLAN that GOD has placed on my heart is WRITTEN on the word processing program that I write devotionals on.  For this “brain damaged” hemorrhagic stroke survivor, it is a habit that I use because my confidence in my abilities isn’t as good as it used to be??  To have it listed on my computer log is a lot better than not remembering the item in question!

Waiting for the “appointed time” is NOT one of my strong suits!  Always wanting to receive HIS PROMISE is something that has been very enthralling!  NOT KNOWING the “difficulties” that are certain to come along with HIS PROMISE is something that causes me to “lose excitement” before the BLESSINGS are enjoyed.  Writing HIS PROMISES down is something that I perform in order to keep my HEART and MIND stable when “the enemy” begins to attack me.  

Habakkuk 2:2 begins with “WRITE THE VISION” being SPOKEN by THE LORD in HEAVEN!  HE knew that I would not be sharp enough to remember HIS PROMISE, especially when trials and tribulations were on their way!  HE wants me to “WRITE THE VISION” so I can be often reminded of HIS PROMISE and HIS PLAN for my life!!!  Therefore, I “WRITE THE VISION” to remind me that HE IS IN CONTROL, and I am not!!!

“TRAIN UP A CHILD!”

 

Proverbs 22:6                 (ESV)

    “[6] 

    “TRAIN UP A CHILD” in the way he should go;

        even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Even though I am BLESSED to be more matured than I was while raising my sons, some people aren’t granted the privilege of experiencing “senior moments” with their grandchildren so they can watch the fruits of their labor???  Recently I saw a meme that brought back memories which said “Teach your child to pray. You won’t be around all their life, but GOD will!”  

My “actions” earlier in life were not something that I would prefer my children to remember.  I was SO BUSY trying to help others that I sometimes didn’t show my own children the time they deserved!  MY OWN CHILDREN are BLESSINGS from THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES!!  Could I have been so “caught up” with making sure that the cares of “this world” were taken care of that I might have missed making sure my own children understood that the REAL and PERMANENT things were FAR MORE IMPORTANT than the things of “this world”???

My prayer is that I will instill in my children, AND GRANDCHILDREN, that their PERMANENT and REAL relationship with THEIR CREATOR is THE MOST IMPORTANT realm that they can possibly foster!!!  “TRAIN UP A CHILD”, not that they are aware, BUT THAT THEY KNOW what is REAL and PERMANENT in life!!!