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Dailies May 2021 |
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06/03/2021 Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris 1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. 11 Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. 12 And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council, 13 And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: 14 For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us. 15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. God's love preparing man for destruction. I can not wonder what Stephen himself though as he prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem. No one wants to be a voice of destruction. Jesus certainly spoke about destruction. Yet the destruction was coming to Jerusalem and coming soon. We know that the temple was destroyed around 90 AD. The early church growing and producing believers of faith. Stephen was such a man a disciple and deacon of the church, who cared for the people. He also prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem. However was this the same prophesy that Jesus spoke himself about the destruction of the temple and rebuilding of it without hands. No it was about a new era. As I think about these prophesy I ask Lord why warn us, if we believe not and if we believe what good does it do us. We can not change a thing unless repentance occurs and you show mercy to a city, town, or village like you did Nineveh. Why would God tell us something he already decide upon like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. The answer is it teaches us about his wrath, the sickness of sin in an area, and maybe the plus side of it all is there is a potential for mercy and God's grace. Stephen would go to his death preaching, but he would see the hope of glory and testify it giving hope to other believers. It is recorded in chapter 8 of Acts. Why did Christ raise the temple in three day or how did he raise the temple in three days, the foundation stone is Jesus. Stephen would not be a foundation stone, but a stone laid upon the foundation of Christ Jesus. Stephen worried not about the destruction coming but preached by the Holy Spirit. Only time would tell if Stephen was speaking words of truth, but instead the people of the synagogue would stone him instead of waiting to see. Time of exile things changed, but beliefs and how the laws of Moses was carried out only changed by the law of the land they lived in, in the way they practiced it. With destruction of Jerusalem, the law of faith and spiritual law of faith would survive because it was no longer rooted to the city of Jerusalem but to faith in Christ Jesus to all that believed. Right now their is a change coming in Israel from my understanding of new leaders. The problem arises where is there faith, is built on a city built with human hands or one built by the Spirit of God. As Christians watch the going on in the middle east and Jerusalem this scripture is perhaps fitting, for things change with new leaders and new way of doing things. If Jerusalem becomes under a different spiritual rule does it mean the people that believe lost their faith in God, the answer is no, but how they practice may change and could change. Same way of thinking in America, if we loose our Christian heritage in our government does our heart change to whatever it is, the answer is no. Faith in Christ stands, and is still supported by our government in the since of freedom of religion. Other countries sometimes land up bowing to their leaders God or gods because of change because they share not America's freedom of faith. Is your faith built in a building or in the spiritual building built by God and not always visible to the human eye? Decide today who you serve whether it be Jesus and God, or if you still willing to conform to governmental religion that is built not always God but human hands. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you building your church not with visible hands of man, but the spiritual hands of your Spirit and your word. May Christ reign in our lives and destruction come as a warning to the world your word still reigns. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study: Mark 14:58 KJV58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
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