Silver Lining of the Lord
Greetings in the Lord!
Today's word is taken from two passages; Acts 8:1-7 and Luke 9:49-50:
"On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city."
Luke 9:49-50: "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
~In both of these passages the purposes of God was being done, albeit in ways not completely imagined or accepted by those close to Jesus. After all, as humans, what do we know, really? God's ways are not our ways. It is so amazing that God can and does use every opposition or "bad" situation for His glory if we trust in Him. No doubt even the blood of Stephen cried out from the ground to God to have mercy on Saul, who approved of the stoning death of Stephen. The end is never 'the end' with Christ, our eternal Redeemer. Saul became Paul--what better example do we need? Join with me to pray this day that wherever there is persecution, that the Lord will strengthen the faithful to still boldly preach the word and be willing vessels for the miraculous power of God to use to display His glory to all men; and that the many "Sauls" of this hour would soon become "Pauls" as the love our Redeemer touches their heart and awesome displays of His power opens their eyes. Amen.
~As a confirmation to yesterday's word, I received an email prayer request late last night regarding a "falsely accused" believer, a missionary couple in Mozambique from Iris ministries, that they had been slandered publically in a newspaper and were facing hostile, even life-threatening situations by their enemies. Thank you for joining me in prayer for them! That couple, Heidi and Rolland Baker, have been mighty servants of the Lord in Mozambique and I am truly humbled that the Spirit would place that intercessory burden upon our hearts to pray for our faithful brethren in their time of great need. May the Lord give them double blessings for all their troubles.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
Today's word is taken from two passages; Acts 8:1-7 and Luke 9:49-50:
"On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city."
Luke 9:49-50: "Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
~In both of these passages the purposes of God was being done, albeit in ways not completely imagined or accepted by those close to Jesus. After all, as humans, what do we know, really? God's ways are not our ways. It is so amazing that God can and does use every opposition or "bad" situation for His glory if we trust in Him. No doubt even the blood of Stephen cried out from the ground to God to have mercy on Saul, who approved of the stoning death of Stephen. The end is never 'the end' with Christ, our eternal Redeemer. Saul became Paul--what better example do we need? Join with me to pray this day that wherever there is persecution, that the Lord will strengthen the faithful to still boldly preach the word and be willing vessels for the miraculous power of God to use to display His glory to all men; and that the many "Sauls" of this hour would soon become "Pauls" as the love our Redeemer touches their heart and awesome displays of His power opens their eyes. Amen.
~As a confirmation to yesterday's word, I received an email prayer request late last night regarding a "falsely accused" believer, a missionary couple in Mozambique from Iris ministries, that they had been slandered publically in a newspaper and were facing hostile, even life-threatening situations by their enemies. Thank you for joining me in prayer for them! That couple, Heidi and Rolland Baker, have been mighty servants of the Lord in Mozambique and I am truly humbled that the Spirit would place that intercessory burden upon our hearts to pray for our faithful brethren in their time of great need. May the Lord give them double blessings for all their troubles.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
Comments