Blog
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold is as pictures of silver.(Prov.25:11) It is so important to speak the right words to people at the right time to produce the right results. When you think of apples of gold in pictures of silver, then you are thinking of wealth and excellence. When we speak wisdom into the lives of others we are making them wealthy. Therefore we must seek God for He is the source of all wisdom and He will give us just the right words needed at the right time.
You need to be a member of TimothyWayneGeorge to add comments!
Comments
#Then laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Acts 8:17,18
Did Simon really have faith? Well, we see that when Peter and John came they prayed for the people and then laid their hands on them, then they received the Holy Spirit. Then Simon saw by the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, so he thought he could give the apostles' money to receive this gift. It is obvious that Simon's faith is not genuine, as he is worshiping money and not the Lord Jesus Christ. So Peter denounced him by saying ye have neither part in this for your heart is not right with God. This is why the love of money is the root of all evil. We must guard our hearts against the deceitfulness of riches. Once you place your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we must use our money for the glory of God. Jesus warned about riches in the parable of the sower went forth to sow. The thorns of riches choke the Word of God out of the hearts of those who love money. Paul warned in II Tim. 3 that they would be lovers of money and not lovers of God. It is not a sin to have money, but if money has us, then it becomes an idol. So Peter warned Simon to repent of this idolatry in hopes that God would forgive the thoughts of his heart.
#Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who when they came down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: Acts 8:14,15
As a result of Philip's preaching, the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard how Samaria had received the word of God, so they sent unto them Peter and John: these two apostles were unlearned and ignorant, but the most important thing is they had been with Jesus. Men and women you do have to have a Ph.D. to preach the gospel, but you must have been with Jesus. So the apostles when they came down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: Now baptism is necessary, but the most important thing is the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit which comes by prayer. Jesus told the disciples in John 14 that He was going to send a comforter. The Paracletous who would be in us and upon us. He would take the things of Christ and make them real unto us. So the preaching of the word of God is used by the Holy Spirit to make us sons of God. Then we are baptized with the fire of the Holy Spirit and sealed until the day of our redemption.
#Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Acts 8:13
Did Simon the sorcerer really have saving faith? For he was baptized and continued with Philip while wondering as he beheld the miracles and signs which were done. It seemed like his faith was genuine. Yet we will see that the love of money is the root of all evil and you cannot serve God and materialism. This tragedy is what many are trying to do today, with the stock market at record levels and real estate is booming. There are more rich people in the church today than ever before, yet there is very little true love in the church today. Jesus said if the salt becomes useless, it is good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled under the feet of men. We must make full proof of our faith, for in the day of judgment Jesus will say to some I never knew you: depart from me ye workers of iniquity. What a judgment that will be so let us be at peace with all men and follow holiness, for without holiness no man will see the Lord.
#But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Acts 8:12
One Simon the sorcerer bewitched the people with his false doctrine, but when they heard the true gospel of the preaching of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, they believed, they were baptized both men and women. This does not rule out children were baptized. So it is ok for a child to be baptized, as Jesus said except ye become as a little child ye shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Child-like faith is what we all must have in order to be saved. It is therefore paramount that parents raise up their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
#Then Philip went to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. Acts 8:5,6
This was not the apostle Philip but the one chosen to take over after the death of Stephen and he was full of the Holy Spirit as manifested by the miracles which he did. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake. What a move of God was going on in Samaria as people were crying out with a loud voice, and many that were possessed with unclean spirits were delivered. And there was great joy in that city. The key to Joy: Jesus first, then Others, and then yourself. How we need more Philips in the church today as many are spreading gossip in the church and apostasy is rampant. We need to pray for a revival to come and that the Holy Spirit will send more workers into the vineyard in these last days.
#As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts 8:3
Saul is the blasphemer he said he was in I Tim 1:13 and did much harm to the church, not regarding men or women. He put them in prison and had some of them put to death. Yet God had a plan for him, and you too can be saved just like Saul. For he did all those things ignorantly and obtained mercy. I hope you will cry out to God to save me even if you are the chief of sinners like Saul. For God is a merciful God and willfully pardon if you will confess your sins, then forsake them. Just say Lord I repent of my sins and believe in my heart that you raised Jesus from the dead. I accept Him as my Lord and Savior.
#And Saul were consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. Acts 8:1,2
Saul was consenting unto the death of Stephen and now great persecution was against the church at Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria. All were scattered abroad the regions except the apostles. This was because of the filling of the Holy Spirit and God was using the apostles to turn the world upside down for Jesus Christ. Meanwhile, devout Christian men took the remains of Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. This is the form of Christian burial, and I do not believe Christians should be cremated. Yet so many are being cremated because of the pandemic. Nevertheless, God will put that dust together again in the resurrection. So it is not a sin to be cremated, but we should identify in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
#And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59,60
While they were stoning Stephen, he called upon God, saying Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. This is what happens when we are dying Jesus receives our spirit in heaven. And when he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, he said Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. Stephen is forgiving those who were stoning him. Just like Jesus said Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. This is the greatest act of forgiveness, and this is the greatest act of love, for Jesus said no greater love can a man have than to lay down their life for his friends. This is what Jesus did on the cross, and that is what Stephen is doing by forgiving those who stoned him. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. That is physical death when the body is separated from the soul. This is why Paul said in his episle to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. This is instantaneous. Just as when the angels carried Lazarus to Abraham's bosom. This is the joy of death. That is why Paul said to live is Christ and to die gain.
#Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. Acts 7:57,58
The Sanhedrin were so angry they stirred up all the people and with a loud voice closed their ears and ran upon Stephen with one accord, And cast him out of the city by stoning him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. This Saul would become the Apostle Paul who would be converted by the Lord on the Damascus road. Paul would never forget this experience and it would haunt him throughout his ministry as he referred to himself as the chief of sinners. I believe Stephen's testimony helped to win Saul to convert to Christianity. We never know how we can influence the world for Christ until we are faced with a God-given appointment to lay down our lives for the sake of the gospel. Saul would have his name changed by the Lord Jesus Christ to Paul after the Damascus road experience.
#But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, Acts 7:55
Stephen is full of the Holy Spirit, knowing he is about to be the first martyr, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. Jesus is preparing to welcome Stephen into the heavenly kingdom and tell him well done my good and faithful servant enter thou into the joy of the Lord. What a glorious moment that will be when my Jesus I will see, for that will be heaven to me. We are in the midst of a pandemic and many souls are entering the heavenly kingdom. Yet Stephen is the only one who was privileged by the Holy Spirit to see Jesus standing at the right hand of God to welcome him. What a joy that must have been for him, as he was faithful to declare the Word of God until the very end. It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. Christians will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, known as the Bema Seat. We will not be judged for our sins, for Jesus as our Advocate has taken all those blemishes against us and nailed them to the tree of Calvary. We will answer for the works that we have done after salvation. For all the things we did for the glory of God, we will receive an award. The souls that we have won to Christ there will be given the crown of rejoicing. and we will then cast our crowns at His feet as an act of worship for what almighty God has done. Stephen will receive the crown of life for being a martyr for the Lord Jesus Christ and all those that shall love the appearing of the Lord in the first resurrection shall receive the crown of righteousness. There will be some who will be saved yet as by fire, as the fire will determine the quality of our works. There will be gold, silver, and precious stones which will not burn up. Yet for those works of vain glory, there will be wood, hay, and stubble which will burn up. Yet you will be saved. So as the poem goes: only what we do for Christ will last, so forget the past and get busy serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
-
133
-
134
-
135
-
136
-
137
of 373 Next