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Saul Unknowingly Persecuted Jesus
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. Acts 9:3-5, NIV Saul was breathing out murderous threats against the early Christians. He was full of zeal with his beliefs in Judaism to the point of hurting those people who followed Jesus. He was one of the Pharisees who greatly persecuted those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah. He never really realized who he was persecuting until he encountered…
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When God Sends His Servants
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Acts 8:39, NIV Philip was sent by God’s spirit to a desert road to share Jesus to an Ethiopian Eunuch. When he heard the official reading the book of Isaiah, he explained to him what it truly meant. Eventually, they saw some water, and the Eunuch decided to be baptized. When he came up out of the water, the spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away. But one of the notable things we could learn from the Eunuch…
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He Is A God Who Would Stop For ‘The One’
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Acts 8:27-29, NIV Philip was preaching God’s word to so many people, and suddenly, God instructed him to purposely meet one person. The Holy Spirit led him to a desert road, and there, he saw an Ethiopian eunuch reading the book of…
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Let’s Live A Surrendered Life Before The Lord
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship. Acts 8:26-27, NIV Philip was in the middle of a successful work in Samaria when God asked Him to go to a desert road to share the gospel with an Ethiopian Eunuch. Before God’s sudden instruction, Phillip witnessed people receive healing, and they listened to his message. While he…
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We Need To Let Go Of Our Excuses
The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. Proverbs 20: 4, NKJV There are just days in life when we feel so tired, especially when doing certain work. We just want to rest and feel at ease, and unknowingly, we waste so much time doing unproductive activities. There’s nothing wrong with finding rest and taking a break, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should just wait for things to happen on their own. Somehow, we need to let go of our excuses. Lazy people would think of ways to avoid the hard stuff and just focus on things that would make…
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Things That Can Never Be Bought With Money
When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Acts 8:18-21, NIV When Philip shared the gospel in Samaria, a sorcerer named Simon believed and followed him. He was so astonished by what he witnessed that he desired the power of…
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When People Speak Before They Listen
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2, NIV The book of proverbs is filled with practical wisdom that could help people live a fruitful and blessed life. There, you will learn how to identify the wise or foolish people. One of the things that King Solomon mentioned about foolish people was that they find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Sometimes, they speak before they listen. They judge before they check the background of the story. They are quick to misinterpret the situation or other people because they choose to value their own opinions. Sometimes, I am…
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Allow God To Use Your Circumstances For His Glory
And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria… Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Acts 8:1 &4, NIV When the early church experienced persecution, they were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Jesus talked about these places in Acts 1:8 before He resurrected to heaven, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Because of the persecutions,…
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Please Keep In Mind That God Is Always Willing To Help
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 121: 1-2, NIV Remember that you can always ask for God’s help in moments of difficulties and struggles. Call upon His name, and His loving hands will assist you. God is capable of helping you. He is the maker of heaven and earth. It means He is powerful enough to give you the resources you need. Sometimes, when we go through challenges in life, we tend to focus on our wisdom and rely on our strength. We ask for help from others, thinking it’s…
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Let’s Pray That God Will Teach Us How To Let Go Of The Grudges Inside
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7: 59-60, NIV Stephen died with faith in his heart. He chose to pray even when he was in pain and suffering. In fact, he didn’t hold grudges. With a humble heart, he asked God to forgive those people who stoned him. If I experienced the same pain, most probably I would complain and ask God for questions. But Stephen did the exact opposite. His life is a great reminder for me…