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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.
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#Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 11:29, 30
The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas and Saul to distribute funds that were raised by the Gentiles to the poor Jews suffering from the famine. This shows the love that the church had for their brethren and the apostle John said if you see your brethren in need, don't just pray for them, but give them those things that they need. This is the test of our Christianity that we help and do good to all men; especially those of the household of God. This is a great lesson to us today in this pandemic and many families are in need of help and each of us should give to every man that has a need according to his or her ability. Now our yay should be yay and our nay should be nay. There are some sisters and brothers who are wasting their money on things that are not needed. This we have to show spiritual discernment to know a need from greeds. I counsel brothers and sisters Pro Bono to help them with their taxes for these reasons.
#And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Acts 11:27,28
We thank God for the prophets that came from Jerusalem unto Antioch, and warned about the famine that would come throughout the world. Agabus was one of them and he warned the Christians at Antioch what they were to do to supply the needs of the brethren through all the world. We are facing the coronavirus pandemic,for now two years and many have died from the virus. Yet we still must be vigilant in the midst of this pandemic and still warn others to get their vaccines and booster shots so that we can overcome this virus. Ministers need to preach the whole counsel of God and encourage those who are hesitant to take the vaccine to take it. For God has not given us the Spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind. God gives doctors and scientists the wisdom to develop these vaccines to save our lives. Thank God for the generation in the 1950s was courageous to take the Polio vaccine and wipe it off the face of the earth. We can do the same to the coronavirus if we will do the same.
#Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts 11:25,26
The church at Jerusalem sent for Barnabas and he went to Tarsus to seek for Saul to inspire the Church where they were called Christians first in Antioch. Saul who would be called Paul would become the apostle to the Gentiles. For it was the will of God to baptize Jews and Gentiles into the Body of Christ. I thank God for that because now we are a part of the body of Christ. This New Year let us continue to spread the good news of Jesus Christ so that many souls will be added into the kingdom.
#And the hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord. Acts 11:21
And some of them were men of Cypress and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. As Jews and Gentiles were turning to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came and had seen the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
#Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. Acts 11:19
Dr. Luke resumes the narration of Acts 8, after the persecution of Stephen they traveled to the rich cities of Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch preaching the word only to the Jews. God is no respecter of persons and He is going to use Paul to break up this discrimination. Similar to the reconstruction in America after the Civil war, the churches were divided into the white church and the black church. This sadly is still being practiced today. If we are going to the same heaven, then we had better learn how to worship God in the same church. Thank God for Billy Graham who was instrumental in breaking up segregation at his evangelistic crusades. We must continue to fight segregation in the churches today in the New Year 2022. Let us make a resolution to worship God where ever the Spirit of God tells us to go to the glory of God the Father.
#When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. Acts 11:18
After Peter had rehearsed all that God had told him to do, then the Jews were convinced of the truth and glorified God saying then hath God given unto the Gentiles repentance unto life or salvation. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. The Gentiles, just like the Jews had to place their faith in the shed Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross and turn away from their sinful way of life. For if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation, for old things are passed away and all things have become new. This is what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus you must be born again. Yes, true repentance is a change of mind about Jesus Christ. We must accept Him for who He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. I pray that you will believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then bare the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, self-control in Gal. 5:22 as we are told when we are born again these fruits must be evident in our lives. Jesus said in John 15 that without Me ye can do nothing. So we must abide in the Vine, who is Christ,and allow the sap of the Spirit to bear these fruits in our lives. May the Lord bless you to do this and have a Happy New Year.
#Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as He did us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ: what was I, that I could withstand God? Acts 11:17
Peter asks the greatest question: what was I, that I could withstand God? That tells us when the Lord needs somebody we must be obedient to the call of God in our lives. As we prepare to ring in the New Year, let us resolve to say yes, Lord, Yes to your will for us and to your ways for us. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path. For we walk by faith and not by sight. So let us trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey as the Hymn says. I thank God that His grace is sufficient for us in the coming year as it has been for us this year.
#And behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me, And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: Acts 11:11,12
The Spirit told Peter to go with the six men into the house of Cornelius in Caesarea, not doubting anything. And Cornelius told us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa and call for Simon whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. This is the centralilty of the gospel of Jesus Christ for Jews and Gentiles to be saved. So as Peter began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginnig. He was speaking of Pentacost when gloven tongues of fire fell on the Jews in the upper room and all began speaking in tongues in his native language. Then remembered I the word of the Lord. how that He said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. This is what happened to all of them and God was glorified in the house of Cornelius. I pray that you will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of your sins and then you will be a new creation. For this is the will of God that all men will be saved.
#Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth and wild beast and creeping things and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. Acts 11:6,7
Peter rehearses the vision from the Lord of the four-footed beasts and creeping things of fowls of the air. Then he heard the voice Arise Peter; slay and eat. Peter said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered my mouth. But the voice answered me from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. And this was done three times and all were drawn up again into heaven. This is why we must obey God and do what He commands us to do. Just trust God to give you the grace to love people that you do not know and preach the gospel to them. For God commended His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. So it is grace not just for the Jews, but also the Gentiles. So God sent six men with Peter to go into the house of Cornelius and Peter preached the gospel to them. So if you find yourself in a trance, this is not mental illness, but God speaking to you. God speaks to us in visions and dreams.
#And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest into men uncircumcised and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order unto them saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying and in a trance, I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners, and it came even to me: Acts 11:2-5
This pandemic has taught us more about mental health and removed the stigma associated with it. This stigma that people had about mental health is the same stigma that the Jews had about taking the gospel to the uncircumcised Gentiles. But Peter explains that he was in Joppa praying when in a trance and the Lord gave him a vision about taking the gospel to the Gentiles. We must accept like Peter came to believe that the Gentiles were to hear the gospel preached to them. Just like mentally ill people need to seek treatment for their mental illness just as Simone Biles did in the Olympics this year. We applaud her for coming out and taking the stigma out of the illness. May the Lord change our hearts about mental illness just like He changed Peter's heart about taking the gospel to the Gentiles
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