Divine Connection

Acts 8:26-35

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). God cares for all men, whether they do evil, or good. In fact, one of God’s most amazing and unappreciated characteristics is, His patience. Oftentimes, men take for granted, the time God grants them in the earth, but soon that time will expire.

King Solomon helps us understand, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” (Prov. 15:3). God wants all men to submit themselves to His will and authority, so they can reap the best benefits of this life, and the next. Unfortunately, the world has become so corrupt to the point men, women, and children alike, are dying at unfathomable rates. Many pass away too soon, before they can even begin to enjoy the benefits that come with living a saved life. God the Father sees all, knows all, and desires that all come to Him, before their time is cut short. For this reason, the Spirit of God works through those who are attuned to His will, and joins them with others who diligently seek the truth of God’s Word. God is good, and His mercy endures forever, so all who have a strong desire to known Him, will indeed discover the depths of His unparalleled love, grace, and mercy.

Our text introduces a certain man; one who was of great authority, and served under queen Candace of the Ethiopians, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. While it may seem strange for an Ethiopian eunuch to seek worship in Jerusalem, tradition tells that king Solomon taught his religion to the queen of Sheba, who established it among her people. So it was only right for the man to travel to give honor to the God of the great king Solomon. As the man sat in his chariot, he struggled to understand the readings of the prophet Isaiah. It’s evident he had a desire for godliness, but couldn’t grasp its concepts. This was the perfect opportunity for God to connect a man seeking the truth, with another who understood and lived the truth.

During this time, persecution of the church had elevated to astounding rates (spearheaded by Saul, who had recently ordered the death of Stephen), yet the apostles and disciples of Christ continued to branch out to spread the Gospel to different lands. While watching the Ethiopian man from Heaven, struggling to understand the Word, God sent an angel to Philip, instructing him to get up, and go to Gaza. Not knowing the reason for the urgent request, Philip arose and did as he was instructed. When he arrived, the Spirit told Philip to join himself to the same chariot which the Ethiopian man sat upon. I’m certain God was smiling, as He observed the willing and obedient servant, approaching the chariot of someone seeking to know and abide by the truth. After Philip literally ran to meet the man, the Bible says, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” (vs. 35).

God knows what we have need of, and He always has someone in place, to assist in whatever way possible. The Ethiopian man may have left his estate with questions, but I’m certain he arrived back home with more than he expected. Trust God to help you find answers to questions you may have concerning His Word, or life in general. When you seek God with all your heart, He’ll always send someone to help you gain a better understanding of those hard things you are unable to grasp.

The Perfect Gift

Isaiah 52:13-53:3

During Christmas time, birthdays, or special events, gifts are given to show love and appreciation to those deserving of kindness and generosity. While the gift itself is the main thing, many take precious time to adorn the gift as beautifully as possible. Gift wrapping has become as popular in our society as the gift itself, and millions of dollars are spent annually, for gift bags, wrapping paper, and other decorations that beautify the package. When all is said and done, the beautiful arrangement is meaningless, except for the gift that’s placed inside.

As God looked upon the earth, and considered the ways of men, how they continued in their insolence and disobedience, He prepared a gift to send to the earth, so that mankind could be redeemed. Unlike men, who spend time trying to make the outer appearance of the gift look as attractive as possible, God sent Jesus to the earth with no form or comeliness, and no beauty that any should desire Him. Why would God not send His only begotten Son arrayed in beauty, splendor, and majesty? If Jesus had come to the earth with the face of an angel and the body of a god, I’m certain men and women (especially) would have flocked to hear Him without question, right? Jesus came to save men from sin, not partake in beauty contests. Even in his common state, the prophet Isaiah stated that men would despise and reject Jesus, and He would bear many sorrows, so I highly doubt giving the Savior good looks would keep Him in good standing with the scribes and Pharisees, after delivering His sharp and controversial message.

The gift God gave the world may not have been the most beautiful on the outside, but it’s value is higher than anything we place a price tag on. Salvation cannot be bought with money, or bargained by trade. Only through confession and belief, can the gift of God be obtained by men. This precious gift, that man despises even today, came at great cost. Most gifts given to others are usually purchased on Amazon, or from a store of choice, but the gift of salvation came from suffering, abuse, betrayal, denial, blood, pain, sorrow, tears, shame, rejection… sigh.

Do you appreciate the gift God gave you, in His Son? We don’t deserve God’s precious gift, yet He gave it to us regardless. Prove your love to the Father by living a life that mirrors Christ, and learn to appreciate the gift of salvation more and more each day.

Hide And Seek

1 Kings 19

There’s something about Heaven, or more specifically, the realm of the spirit, that I am unable to fathom. Throughout the Scriptures, there are many instances where a spiritual manifestation superceded natural law and order. For example, Jesus turned water into wine from grapes that never existed. How do you explain that in scientific terms? Another example took place when the angel of the Lord helped Peter escape from prison, without using a key to open the cell, nor any gadgets the Beagle Boys used in the Duck Tales cartoons. It’s evident, the spirit realm operates on an entirely different playing field than the natural, and for this reason, men should take heed to developing their understanding of God’s Word, so that they’ll be able to navigate through the earth the way God intended them to.

That brief introduction was intended to continue from where we left off on the previous lesson, as the prophet Elijah was running and hiding from queen Jezebel, who sought to take his life. For an entire day, Elijah had run as far as he could, then retired into a wilderness area, where he rested under a juniper tree. It’s apparent, Elijah was still shaken in faith from the threat of the queen, because he begin to request that God take his life, as he felt he was no better than his fathers before him. This was a very intense moment, because Elijah trusted in God, and His amazing power, but the fear of one woman turned the bold lion, into a cowardly chicken.

So, Elijah fell asleep in the wilderness, undoubtedly neglecting to care for his now weak and famished body, but God had not forgotten His servant, and sent an angel to minister unto him. The angel had prepared a meal for the prophet, then woke him up to eat. It would be super awesome to enjoy a meal prepared by an angel, don’t you agree? What’s even more amazing is, the second meal the angel prepared for Elijah gave him strength that lasted 40 days and nights. Wowzer! One angelic cuisine was packed with enough nutrients and essentials to give a man strength for over a month! I can only imagine what the benefits a full heavenly meal would provide. I tell ya, trying to understand the realm of the spirit gives me headaches sometimes, but I love it!

After his long journey, Elijah went into a cave, and lodged there, until the voice of the Lord was heard. God said, “Elijah, what are you doing in here?” (Ell’s translation). The prophet responded, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” There’s no doubt the words Elijah spoke were truth, but God needed a moment to whip His servant back into spiritual shape. God then commanded Elijah to go and stand upon the mountain, to meet Him there. The mighty and matchless God made a grand entrance on the mountain, the likes of which Hollywood stars, athletes, or even famous wrestlers pale in comparison to. Before the Lord arrived, a great and strong wind passed through, literally tearing down the mountains, and breaking the rocks in pieces. After the winds had passed, an earthquake shook the very foundations of the land. If that wasn’t enough to get Elijah’s blood pumping, a great fire followed after the earthquake, and then the voice of the Lord began to speak. Again, God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?”, and he delivered the same response. While Elijah ran to hide himself, God sought him out to reveal another plan he was to partake in.

In times when we are afraid to step out on faith, following a possible failure, God is always waiting to give us new strength to take on new tasks ahead. The work of the Christian is perpetual, and never ends, so rather than hide and cower over past failures, we should be mindful to take breaks, regain our strength, then step back onto the battlefield. God will always equip us with what we need to face every challenge ahead of us, despite how often we belittle ourselves.

From Faith To Fear

1 Kings 19

The great and honorable prophet Elijah had proven to be a reliable and effective conduit, by which God could work His glory and power through. Confronting a king of any stature, is never a wise action to take, but God was with Elijah, more notably when he opposed the king’s wicked beliefs, and obeyed as God commanded.

While doing the works of the Lord are indeed righteous, not everyone will hold your actions in a positive light. After hearing how Elijah had slain 450 prophets of Baal (who were in full support of the king and queen’s unrighteous rule), the cruel and brutal Jezebel sent a messenger to God’s prophet, warning him of his certain death. After performing many great wonders in the name of the Lord, one would assume that Elijah would simply laugh at the threat of a deceived and unrighteous woman, but the great and mighty prophet of the most high God, ran for his life! I have full understanding that a threat on your life should never be taken lightly (especially these days), but Elijah was not too far removed from making it rain, and slaying 450 men, by himself! What was it about Jezebel, that caused the once bold prophet to cower in fear? While king Ahab was known to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, Jezebel was responsible for spearheading many of those situations. She promoted and funded Baal worship, eliminated many of God’s representatives in Israel, then set her mind to rid the world of the prophet Elijah.

While it’s true, the mind and body require rest and nourishment, especially after a great spiritual experience, I’m certain God would have protected Elijah, had he stood his ground against the evil queen, but due to his overwhelming fear of Jezebel, the prophet Elijah ran from Jezreel, and eventually settled at Mount Horeb. While there, he talked with God…

Make It Rain

1 Kings 18

Many days had passed from the time God sent the prophet Elijah to confront the evil king Ahab, until He was ready to reveal His omnipotence to the nation that had turned against Him. During these times, a severe famine overtook Samaria, but the king and those he ruled were still unconvinced of the sovereignty of the true and living God. After an eventful three years of miraculous signs and provision, God spoke to the prophet Elijah, and instructed him to return to the king with another important message. The Lord said to Elijah, “Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” Could you imagine not having rain for three years? Without rainfall on the earth, there would be catastrophic damage all over the world. But, God allows things to happen so others can witness for themselves, all power belongs to Him, and He alone is deserving of worship, honor, and glory. Unfortunately, men are too consumed in their own beliefs, that they totally disregard the obvious workings of the living God, in favor of their futile idolatry.

As you read further into chapter 18, you’ll discover the very unique and elaborate plan God commanded Elijah to follow, which revealed the falsehoods and foolishness of Baal worship, and brought to light the mighty power of the God of Heaven and earth. 450 prophets who worshiped Baal were left without an answer from their “god of rain and plenty”, yet they witnessed the power of the true God with their own eyes.

Nothing compares to the power of the almighty God. Men and women are drawn away daily into deception, and allow falsehoods to overtake their sensibility, but every idol worshipped by men, has no power to do anything, except distract them from the truth. Have you pledged your allegiance to serve weak and powerless idols, or are you aligned with the God who created all things?

Powerless Groves

1 Kings 16:29-18:4

For 22 years, Ahab, the son of Omri, reigned over Israel. Many kings had ruled God’s chosen people before this time; some feared God, but many did not. Of all those who reigned over Israel up to this point, none provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger more than king Ahab. Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who sat on the throne before him. This is really saying something, because the wicked kings who came before Ahab were known for committing corruptible and heinous acts in the sight of the Lord. How would you feel knowing someone who was deemed by the Bible, the most wicked king ever? Not only was Ahab building a reputation for harboring pure evil, but he joined himself to the most wicked woman of his time as well. Jezebel came from the city of Tyre, and was known to be a committed worshiper of Baal also. From their union, came forth only evil and wickedness. To make matters worse, king Ahab thought it necessary to build an altar for Baal, in the house already established for Baal worship. While God allowed the evil king to sit on the throne, He was preparing a man to bring Ahab’s darkness to light. According to His perfect timing, God sent the prophet Elijah to warn king Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” (17:1b). Telling the king there would be no rain or dew until he says so, was like a literal slap in the face of their god. Baal worshippers believed he was the god of rain and harvest, so when the prophet Elijah graced the king’s presence with such a warning, this no doubt brought shock and worry to the heart of the evil man. Elijah was brave in confronting the king, and delivering the message of the Lord, but this was only the beginning of the story…

Spring Cleaning!

2 Kings 22:14-23:30

Throughout the year, many who own homes or rent apartments, usually accumulate excessive amounts of clothing, tools and equipment, and most notably, dirt and grime. For this reason, “Spring Cleaning” was coined to represent a time when conducting a thorough cleaning of the home, or place of living should, take place. Usually, moms take charge of going through every area of the home, in an effort to get rid of things that have little to no value, then go to work on those areas until they are clean enough to her liking. Children are usually involved in this process, but not to the same extent as mothers.

Keeping things stored that add no value to your living situation, only take up space for things that actually can add value. In most cases of spring cleaning, junk is thrown out, and messy places are renewed to reveal their intended freshness. While living the Christian life, it’s easy to get attached to things that aren’t healthy for our souls, if we aren’t careful. For instance, if you check the hearts of the average believer, I’m almost certain you’ll find one or two items in their “inner man”, that are unhealthy for their spiritual development. Just as mom’s designate times to thoroughly clean their homes, the children of God should do the same to keep their hearts and minds clean, and unspotted from the world. It’s important to take moments during the day to examine whether the things in your life are adding to your growth in godliness, or if they represent something contrary to holy living.

Our text gives a great example of how the process of purifying our souls should be conducted. In the previous lesson, king Josiah heard the word of God for the first time, then was immediately convicted, and sought to make things right. This young man not only intended to turn the hearts of the people toward righteous living, but he literally cleaned out EVERYTHING that brought dishonor to the name of the Lord. Below is a brief list of some of the things Josiah was provoked to put into action:

-burned all vessels that were made for baal
-put down the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to baal, the sun, and to the moon, planets, and hosts of heaven
-burned all the wooden images in the house of the Lord, until they were like powder
-broke down the houses of the sodomites near the house of the Lord, where women wove decorations for the graven images
-defiled all high places where the priests burned incense
-removed horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, then burned the chariots of the sun with fire
-beat down and brake all altars made by the evil kings of Judah
-defiled all the abominations built by king Solomon -broke in pieces all the graven images, and filled their places with the bones of men

To what extent do you go, to keep your heart clean before the Lord?

Book Of The Law

2 Kings 22:8-13

As I near the 40 year mark of life on this earth, I can honestly say, I’ve invested hundreds of thousands of hours of reading and meditation in the holy Word of God. Mind you, I don’t say that with any ounce of arrogance, but humility. As a child raised in a Christian home, reading and studying the Bible was an everyday thing for the members of my household, and learning the importance of holiness and how to apply it was instilled in my siblings and I since I can remember. Although I’ve been privileged to grow up the way I did, I was in no way a stranger to mistakes, failures, and faults. But, by the grace of God, I’ve been blessed with time and opportunity to mature and grow continually in godliness.

While it’s important to teach children the ins and outs of life, it’s crucial that they learn about godliness as early as possible. Our text mentions a child of the lineage of king David, who would begin to reign over the people of Judah at the age of eight years old. From reading the text, it’s obvious young Josiah had godly parents, based on verse two which reads, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” This is very encouraging to know, because there were no known scripture text available at this time, because the long line of evil kings probably did away with anything considered holy, but it’s revealed later, the high priest found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. The book was immediately brought and read to the king. After hearing the words according to the law, the now 26 year old king tore off his clothes, then called certain men together to inquire of the Lord concerning the words he had just heard. Based on the law, king Josiah concluded, their fathers had not hearkened to the words of the law, and the wrath of God would be kindled against he and his people. I can’t say of a certainty, that I’ve ever met anyone who read the Bible for the first time, then sought immediate reform, but Josiah was fully convinced that their nation needed to change.

Millions of people today own Bibles, but very few allow its words to penetrate beyond their pride, ignorance, and arrogance. The young and wise king realized how corrupt the nation had become, and made it priority to set things in order. It matters not how young or old a person is, God’s Word can reach you wherever you are. Josiah wasn’t blessed to have the Word of God in his home growing up as I did, yet he lived according to holy and godly standards without wavering. Take advantage of the privilege of reading God’s Word, and allow it to help you grow, so that your purpose for living won’t be in vain.

Forget-Me-Not

Deuteronomy 29:1-6

After experiencing the many wonderful blessings of the Lord in our lives, how do we so easily fall back into sin and the errors of our past? With each trial and struggle the Father brings us through, our faith should be strengthened, and trust in God’s sovereignty amplified to greater levels, but how do we give in to temptation, after witnessing miracles, healings, and wonders in our very own lives? If you took a brief moment to think of all the things God has provided for you, or kept you from, you’d go from counting on your fingers and toes, to writing them down on paper.

Contrary to how the world portrays God to be, He is indeed in favor of righteous indignation, but desires to bless those who willfully obey His commandments. Unfortunately, humans have a tendency to enjoy blessings for a moment, then revert back to their former way of thinking. This harmful cycle of living was prevalent amongst the children of Israel in Scripture. During times of good and plenty, they somehow allowed themselves to get caught up in idol worship and riotous living. The Israelites were reminded of the time when God delivered them from Pharoah’s oppression in Egypt, in addition to how for 40 years, their clothes and shoes never wore out, nor did they have to work for food. God took care of His chosen people, yet they still found time to murmur and complain. How much was enough? I mean, how much did God have to do, to keep their attention on serving Him?

The people of ancient times may not have had the technology or distractions we have today, but it’s evident their eras were littered with ungodly things to block them from serving God. But, despite the inevitable traps and snares set before them, God provided ways for His people to prosper, and do well in the earth. As in the past, God daily loads the people of today with benefits, the likes of which cannot be replicated by human strength or intellect. Who in the earth has ever created anything God didn’t bring into existence? God gives us the breath of life, and a sound mind to fulfill our daily duties. While we may not all become rich, wealthy, and famous, God gives every man what he needs to fulfill their assignment in the earth.

Appreciate the blessings of God, whether you consider them great or small, and don’t allow yourself to easily forget how wonderful He is to you every day. Keep your heart, mind, and eyes fixed on the Lord, so that when temptation comes to pull you away, you’ll keep a firm stance on holy and righteous living.

Believe ‘Til The End

Hebrews 4:1-11

No matter how hard life gets for you, don’t give up. Despite daily trials, tribulations, and seemingly unending struggles, strive to endure until the end. This advice goes out to all who are fighting the “good fight of faith”, and continue to boldly represent holiness, in an ever-changing world.

Throughout history, there were many who started out following after righteousness, but grew weary in doing well. While some had ample opportunity to consider the inward struggle between good and evil in their hearts (like Judas Iscariot), and allow their faith in God to supercede the latter, their supposed hope in the Lord was exposed as being fraudulent. Others who followed after Jesus, allowed the negative influence of family or peers to steer them away from doing what’s right, in place of fulfilling carnal desires. How often are you invited by someone close to you, to participate in events or activities that do very little to promote healthy spirituality? Oftentimes, we are tempted to do things that only satisfy our flesh, and does nothing to build or edify our soul. Gone are the days when believers looked forward to prayer and Bible study meetings, where God could be exalted, and hearts could be encouraged. Nowadays, church folk gravitate more toward what the world promotes on social media or television.

The church looks identical to the world in the way they dress, speak, and think. This is very unfortunate, as many who blend in with the world usually get pulled away from their first love (God), and cling to the fads and trends of carnality. The world is indeed a sphere of continual wickedness, masked with the guise of perpetual happiness, but underneath the semblance of peace and hope, is the true evil intent of the adversary of the believer.

Trust God until the end, and don’t let anything or anyone cause you to fall, or turn away from your faith in the Father. The enemy is coming at the church with full force, but the power of God resides in all His children, through His Spirit, and has equipped them to stand against all the wiles of satan. Don’t give up, don’t give in, because you have the victory over wickedness and sin.