Friday, January 24, 2003
acts 9
how someone is converted . . .
no contest: God is the One that attracts. however it was interesting how
perfectly Saul converted to Paul. i believe salvation is two-fold - it takes
the effort of an evangelist (worker of God) and also the good heart of
hearer of good news.
<10-11> now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to
him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." and he said, "here i am, Lord." so
the Lord said to him, "arise and go to the street called Straight, and
inquire at the house of judas for one called saul of tarsus, for behold, he
is praying."
everything was perfect - Ananias heard the Lord's voice, and Paul was
praying to the Lord. God's love is what brought these two men together that
day - the obedience of Ananias despite the possible hardship and the
humility of Paul to change from one extreme to another. today we can only
play the role of ananias (even tho sometimes we fall into the steps of
saul). ananias was called becuase he dwelt in damascas - probably not
becuase he is more mighty than others in jerusalem. however he had a heart
of obedience and trust, which is apparently enough - God handles the rest.
satan doesn't change . . .
just a few chapters back, Saul was the bad guy. he was the chief persecutor,
pulling people out of their homes if they called on the name of Jesus. he
grew notorious enough for Ananias to flinch when God mentioned Paul. "Lord,
i have heard from many about [saul], how much harm he has done to Your
saints in jerusalem. and here he has authority from the chief priests to
bind all who call on Your name." <13-14>
now, the enemy still exists even though paul was converted. satan never lets
down or gives up. now he used other jews to plot against Paul to kill him
<23>. so a lot of times, people in the church may seem to be an enemy of
God. however, people do change but Satan does not. therefore, we can never
judge a person for life or condemn them forever. everyone has their good
moments, and everyone has been a tool of satan at one point or another. i
think a lot of times, ppl miss who the enemy is - it's really a concept, not
an individual. it's satan and whatever he uses at the time - we wrestle
"against principalities, against powers, agasint the rulers of darkness of
this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
on the other hand, we are taught to love our neighbors as
ourselves.
barnabas did well.
how someone is converted . . .
no contest: God is the One that attracts. however it was interesting how
perfectly Saul converted to Paul. i believe salvation is two-fold - it takes
the effort of an evangelist (worker of God) and also the good heart of
hearer of good news.
<10-11> now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to
him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." and he said, "here i am, Lord." so
the Lord said to him, "arise and go to the street called Straight, and
inquire at the house of judas for one called saul of tarsus, for behold, he
is praying."
everything was perfect - Ananias heard the Lord's voice, and Paul was
praying to the Lord. God's love is what brought these two men together that
day - the obedience of Ananias despite the possible hardship and the
humility of Paul to change from one extreme to another. today we can only
play the role of ananias (even tho sometimes we fall into the steps of
saul). ananias was called becuase he dwelt in damascas - probably not
becuase he is more mighty than others in jerusalem. however he had a heart
of obedience and trust, which is apparently enough - God handles the rest.
satan doesn't change . . .
just a few chapters back, Saul was the bad guy. he was the chief persecutor,
pulling people out of their homes if they called on the name of Jesus. he
grew notorious enough for Ananias to flinch when God mentioned Paul. "Lord,
i have heard from many about [saul], how much harm he has done to Your
saints in jerusalem. and here he has authority from the chief priests to
bind all who call on Your name." <13-14>
now, the enemy still exists even though paul was converted. satan never lets
down or gives up. now he used other jews to plot against Paul to kill him
<23>. so a lot of times, people in the church may seem to be an enemy of
God. however, people do change but Satan does not. therefore, we can never
judge a person for life or condemn them forever. everyone has their good
moments, and everyone has been a tool of satan at one point or another. i
think a lot of times, ppl miss who the enemy is - it's really a concept, not
an individual. it's satan and whatever he uses at the time - we wrestle
"against principalities, against powers, agasint the rulers of darkness of
this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
ourselves.
barnabas did well.
acts 8
<18-21> now when simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles'
hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "give me
this power also, that anyone on whom i lay hands on may recieve the Holy
Spirit." but peter said to him, "your money perish with you, becuase you
thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! you have neither
part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in th sight of
God."
i think that often through 'bad' characters in the Bible, we can really try
to dig deep and see if we can find ourselves reflected in them. many times,
it may be hard to listen to others' critiques - i know that my mom says that
i have a big issue with this, even though i am blind to it. sometimes,
drawing out my own weaknesses through the weaknesses and falls of unrelated
Bible characters help me see through my layers and finally see my motives
and basic nature. they also educate me on the final results of my life if i
followed in their ways. they teach me how i should live my life better.
in this case, simon is a new convert who used to practice sorcery. maybe we
would've laughed at his being foolish for offering money in exchange for
God's powers. however, remembering that he is but a spiritual infant and
that the spiritual realm is still very new to him - it drew a little more
sympathy from me becuase he just did not know any better.
other than just this, i see that what is important to us seems to alwasy
stay with us. what was important to us, before God became important, still
linger in our hearts and plays an invisible hand in our lives! it's hard to
forsake ourselves sometimes - the old habits, the way we carry ourselves,
the ways we react to others, our lifestyles, ... the way we feel about God.
simon shows me that. he was a sorcerer - it was his entire life! it was
important that he was able to do different and extraordinary things in this
world. that is how he was able to live and how he was respected by others.
similarly, today we hold on to other kinds of things - things that are
uniquely 'us'. maybe even things that mean the world to us. but we have to
remember what peter said - those things will perish with us. we all know
that what is God's can never be exchanged. if we can't let things go then we
can't have part or portion with God, becuase our hearts are not with God
completely yet. i don't know how to say this well, but i think this really
is important. simon would have to give up what he knew, what he was
successful in, his reputation, basically his life! - to find God. Jesus well
said a parable - a man when he found a treasure, would bury it and sell all
he has to buy the land w/ that treasure hidden inside. perhaps it takes our
wisdom and insight to really decide - from within, very consciously - that
God is whom we want to live our lives for. that forever is worth trading in
whatever it is we hold on to, and consciously see ourselves trading and
giving them up to God.
sometimes i am foolishly content w/ my spirituality - not that i mindfully
say "i like the way i am spiritually", but that i almost exuberate that in
my life. i think all of us are beyond the verbal confession of serious
weaknesses in the faith, saying that we forsook God. however, all of us have
forsaked God at some point of our lives; we have traded something else for
God before ... remember that we have had those moments even if we do not
recall, and remember that God is much sweeter than what we know of Him so
far. there has to be a much longer journey ahead, becuase a God-saturated
life has to be much more beautiful than the one i am living today.
<18-21> now when simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles'
hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, "give me
this power also, that anyone on whom i lay hands on may recieve the Holy
Spirit." but peter said to him, "your money perish with you, becuase you
thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! you have neither
part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in th sight of
God."
i think that often through 'bad' characters in the Bible, we can really try
to dig deep and see if we can find ourselves reflected in them. many times,
it may be hard to listen to others' critiques - i know that my mom says that
i have a big issue with this, even though i am blind to it. sometimes,
drawing out my own weaknesses through the weaknesses and falls of unrelated
Bible characters help me see through my layers and finally see my motives
and basic nature. they also educate me on the final results of my life if i
followed in their ways. they teach me how i should live my life better.
in this case, simon is a new convert who used to practice sorcery. maybe we
would've laughed at his being foolish for offering money in exchange for
God's powers. however, remembering that he is but a spiritual infant and
that the spiritual realm is still very new to him - it drew a little more
sympathy from me becuase he just did not know any better.
other than just this, i see that what is important to us seems to alwasy
stay with us. what was important to us, before God became important, still
linger in our hearts and plays an invisible hand in our lives! it's hard to
forsake ourselves sometimes - the old habits, the way we carry ourselves,
the ways we react to others, our lifestyles, ... the way we feel about God.
simon shows me that. he was a sorcerer - it was his entire life! it was
important that he was able to do different and extraordinary things in this
world. that is how he was able to live and how he was respected by others.
similarly, today we hold on to other kinds of things - things that are
uniquely 'us'. maybe even things that mean the world to us. but we have to
remember what peter said - those things will perish with us. we all know
that what is God's can never be exchanged. if we can't let things go then we
can't have part or portion with God, becuase our hearts are not with God
completely yet. i don't know how to say this well, but i think this really
is important. simon would have to give up what he knew, what he was
successful in, his reputation, basically his life! - to find God. Jesus well
said a parable - a man when he found a treasure, would bury it and sell all
he has to buy the land w/ that treasure hidden inside. perhaps it takes our
wisdom and insight to really decide - from within, very consciously - that
God is whom we want to live our lives for. that forever is worth trading in
whatever it is we hold on to, and consciously see ourselves trading and
giving them up to God.
sometimes i am foolishly content w/ my spirituality - not that i mindfully
say "i like the way i am spiritually", but that i almost exuberate that in
my life. i think all of us are beyond the verbal confession of serious
weaknesses in the faith, saying that we forsook God. however, all of us have
forsaked God at some point of our lives; we have traded something else for
God before ... remember that we have had those moments even if we do not
recall, and remember that God is much sweeter than what we know of Him so
far. there has to be a much longer journey ahead, becuase a God-saturated
life has to be much more beautiful than the one i am living today.
acts 7
one of my better mornings started with . . .
STEPHEN
this chapter spoke to me as the faith and journey of a man of God - stephen.
never have we seen more strength in people than when they are bound, beat,
or threatened for God's name; stephen really shows that quality of pure
Christianity that day when he stood before the council - the day he was
stoned to death.
perhaps it takes iron to sharpen iron; perhaps through trials he was refined
to be fine gold; or perhaps he took more intiative to focus on his faith and
grow in conviction spiritually daily. whatever it is, i bet he went through
a process to achieve who he turned out to be at the very end. truly, God
calls His loved ones back when they are ready.
stephen was a good evangelist. with a mere question, "are these things so?"
from the high priest, stephen started preaching to the council. shoving out
the potential and likely aggravation of personal danger, stephen still hoped
that the jews that stood before him could see that Jesus is their Messiah!
this really reminds me of when Jesus, full of agony, said "Father forgive
them, for they know not what they are doing." it's the same love. this must
be God's love.
stephen was amazingly well read and well-versed in the Bible. his sermon was
flawlessly backed up by the old testament even though he wasn't preparing
specifically to give a sermon. this reminds me that, it is really small
drops of water that makes a mighty ocean. stephen did his spiritual training
in his daily life - it is apparent, there is no need to verify this. from
the story of Moses he drew an analogy proving that the Jesus they had
rejected can be the messiah sent by God. he said it so well that i felt
convicted and edified all over again.
i think stephen has a great approach to persuasion - he carefully presented
all the facts before the jews that stood before him. he used what they
believed - the old testament - to relate it to the present. even tho he was
standing amongst wolves but he had God's strength and spoke boldly without
fear! (perhaps, this is what paul - then saul - learned from stephen when he
saw stephen die before his eyes.
stephen held on to God until the very end. after he was stoned he cried out
to God - and it was a cry that was victorious. i think that stephen is just
someone i need to learn from. in many ways, he revealed the strength and way
of his life. he had the face of an angel - and i think he speaks out to all
of us today to help us along and be stronger for God.
one of my better mornings started with . . .
STEPHEN
this chapter spoke to me as the faith and journey of a man of God - stephen.
never have we seen more strength in people than when they are bound, beat,
or threatened for God's name; stephen really shows that quality of pure
Christianity that day when he stood before the council - the day he was
stoned to death.
perhaps it takes iron to sharpen iron; perhaps through trials he was refined
to be fine gold; or perhaps he took more intiative to focus on his faith and
grow in conviction spiritually daily. whatever it is, i bet he went through
a process to achieve who he turned out to be at the very end. truly, God
calls His loved ones back when they are ready.
stephen was a good evangelist. with a mere question, "are these things so?"
from the high priest, stephen started preaching to the council. shoving out
the potential and likely aggravation of personal danger, stephen still hoped
that the jews that stood before him could see that Jesus is their Messiah!
this really reminds me of when Jesus, full of agony, said "Father forgive
them, for they know not what they are doing." it's the same love. this must
be God's love.
stephen was amazingly well read and well-versed in the Bible. his sermon was
flawlessly backed up by the old testament even though he wasn't preparing
specifically to give a sermon. this reminds me that, it is really small
drops of water that makes a mighty ocean. stephen did his spiritual training
in his daily life - it is apparent, there is no need to verify this. from
the story of Moses he drew an analogy proving that the Jesus they had
rejected can be the messiah sent by God. he said it so well that i felt
convicted and edified all over again.
i think stephen has a great approach to persuasion - he carefully presented
all the facts before the jews that stood before him. he used what they
believed - the old testament - to relate it to the present. even tho he was
standing amongst wolves but he had God's strength and spoke boldly without
fear! (perhaps, this is what paul - then saul - learned from stephen when he
saw stephen die before his eyes.
stephen held on to God until the very end. after he was stoned he cried out
to God - and it was a cry that was victorious. i think that stephen is just
someone i need to learn from. in many ways, he revealed the strength and way
of his life. he had the face of an angel - and i think he speaks out to all
of us today to help us along and be stronger for God.
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