Joshua 1:8
"...[B]ut you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8).
"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me." (John 5:39).
"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13).
The first part of this Chapter demonstrates the ineffectiveness of being baptized under any name other than Jesus Christ - it is the belief on Christ alone that grants us the saving powerof the Spirit.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be very easy to read this Chapter and come away with the notion that Paul had amazing power. While this is true, it's important to see that it was God working through Paul rather than Paul working on behalf of God.
I like how the Chapter ends. It makes me think of all the silly rallies and protests that take place on a regular basis around the world. We are all so prone to jumping on the band-wagon without really knowing what we're supporting. I want to make it a personal goal to not get swept up in/coerced by the excitement of the moment or what is popular. Pastor Bill spoke on this Sunday in regards to basing your life on the proven veracity of the Word rather than being constantly tossed about by the ever changing ideologies of the world.
Point to ponder: Do demons and spirits still possess people today? Is the Spirit of God still as powerful today as it was in the days of the Apostles? Why don't we see/hear more miracles taking place than we do?
Right- I agree that it's important to keep perspective wrt Paul and his works in that it really is God working through Paul. I thought the same about the riot (as I commented before I saw your comment). It is a definite challenge to go against the grain.
DeleteYour thoughts to ponder - when I think of the well plotted out murders, such as the Joker in Aurora, and others - the only rational in my mind is that they are possessed. I can't fathom otherwise how they can be so terrible.
One of the key things about the spirit of God is that in all of these cases we here "they believed...and they were healed". The lack of belief may be a significant contributor to a lesser presence.
How often riots occur with most not knowing what they're rioting about! I like v. 32 where it says the assembly as in confusion - that's how I see most of the riots that occur. The 99% etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree. A lack of belief can definitely be a prohibition. I think of the verse that says do not quench the Spirit - perhaps this refers to not having faith?
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