God Loves All 11.12.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Acts, please read Chapters 9-10 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online.
If the link does not work you can copy and paste this one to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209-10&version=9

Today we will read about the conversion of Saul; Dorcas being raised from the dead; Peter and Cornelius' visions; and the Gentils reveiving the Holy Spirit. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that Jesus wants us to reach all people regardless of who they are.

Saul of Tarsus was a sincere Pharisee determined to stamp out the followers of Jesus whom he considered religious blasphemers worthy of the death penalty. So he obtained letters from the high priest to go about 135 miles to Damascus in Syria to arrest Christians who had fled from Jerusalem. He stated that if he found any person, whether they were men or women, that were followers of Jesus, he would capture them and could be tried for heresy and put to death. "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem." (Acts 9:1-2 KJV). Still today men and women who are disciples of Christ are threatened with their lives. A person can talk about God all day long, but the second Jesus is mentioned they are persecuted. Talk about confusion and judgement, I will never understand how people can be say they are true to God and yet not believe in Jesus.

Saul got a great surprise as he was headed to Damascus, suddenly he was stopped when a light shined down on him from heaven. It was Jesus speaking to Him, "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks (hurt me). And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. " (9:3-6). When Jesus' disciples are persecuted it is as if He Himself is being persecuted, Saul's persecution resulted in him losing his sight. Jesus calls on all who persecute His disciples to get them to believe in Him and often it is through suffering.

Three days later, the Lord spoke to Ananias, a disciple of Christ who lived in Damascus, telling him to meet Saul when he arrived. "And he (Saul) was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. " (9:9-16). Often when we are approached by non-believers we fear persecution so we tend to refrain from talking to them about Jesus, but unless we make a move we may not realize that we could be saving someones life.

At about the same time, Peter also had a vision which caused him to realize that God is no respecter of persons, meaning that regardless of ones race, rank, wealth, or circumstance all people are entiled to know the Gospel. "While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them. "Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come? And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee." (10:19-22).

For Peter, an orthodox Jew, to lodge with a tanner, an outcast, was a big step out of his prejudice. Next, we are not surprised to find the man who would lodge with a tanner being led by Gentiles to another Gentile's house thirty miles away. How striking are these coincidences of history. Overcoming his Jewish prejudice, the Apostle understood the significance of his revelation which was that God would have every follower of Christ be a witness to the lost. "Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (10:34-35). Today, we learn an important lesson, Christ died for all men without distinction, and salvation through Him is to be offered to all.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
You’re a compassionate, all-powerful, on-time God. No need in our life is overlooked, overwhelming, or overly difficult for You to meet. You use the good, the bad, and the complex matters that we sort through daily to test our faith and grow our endurance. These challenges that are continually before us compel us to look to the Scriptures for spiritual understanding and sustaining power. I will trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation, in the midst of the wait. My heart seeks after You, my Lord and my God, for You have cared for me all the days of my life and You will continue to do so, for You promise to never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus' name.......Amen.

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
God Bless You,
Christina

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