Category: Spiritual

Acts 12:12-17

How many of us have prayed for a situation to change, and when it did, we were astonished? Your prayer could have been personal, an intercessory prayer on behalf of a fellow brother or sister in Christ, for an end to a global pandemic such as COVID-19, or other.  What is most comforting about prayer is that it is our direct line of communication with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Believers have always prayed. James declares that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16b, NIV). If the righteous didn’t pray, this world would be more chaotic than ever.

In the early days of the church at Antioch, King Herod had Peter arrested, and the church prayed for their brother without ceasing (v.5). When their prayer was answered, the church responded in astonishment. We dare not judge them; it happened then, and it happens now.

Peter was bound with two chains, asleep between two soldiers, and two others guarded the door when he was delivered from the shackles of chains by an angel of God. The angel led him safely outside and left him. When he came to himself, he went to the house where many believers had been gathered in prayer all night (v.12). Peter knocked at the door, Rhoda answered (v.13), and recognizing his voice, she ran off joyfully without opening the door to tell the others their prayer had been answered; Peter was at the door (v.14). They didn’t believe their prayer had been answered. Rhoda kept insisting that he was at the door (v.15), and Peter kept knocking. How astonished the believers were when they opened the door and saw him (v.16)! Let’s not forget that somebody prayed for us. So the next time we pray let’s believe that He is a prayer-answering God. Give Him glory!

 

Acts 12:12-17

The Blessed Will Receive the Crown of Life

James 1:12 (AMP)

Because we are children of God, we will be tested. We will experience trials and tribulations of all kinds; therefore, James says that we are to count it all joy (v.2) because we know that the trying of our faith works patience (v.3), and patience works perfection (v.4). Someone might ask, “Why should I suffer with joy? That’s an unfair expectation of me. Looking from a fleshy point of view, we don’t want trials; however, being that we are children of God “we are His heirs and joint heirs with Christ, sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance; we also share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory” (Romans 8:17, Amp Bible).

We expect to receive the crown of life. My nephew Nathan was a high school and college track star. When he ran, he understood that every runner tried their very best to win, but only one would win and receive the prize. Nathan never won a competition because he wished it. He prepared by disciplining himself and practicing self-control in all things. Paul says that every runner goes through this in order to win a crown that won’t last, but believers do it to receive an everlasting crown when Jesus comes back. So James declares that the one who is “steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted” is “blessed.” Because when the child of God has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Do you love the Lord? If so, when He comes back, you will receive the crown of life.

Numbers 27:1-11

God does all things in His own time and way to accomplish His purposes. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The old generation of Israelites had mostly died out, and now the new generation was being prepared to enter the long-awaited promised-land. God ordered Moses and Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, to take a census of the entire congregation of Israel twenty years old and up that were able to go to war (26:1-2).

Five sisters, who clearly exemplified faith and courage: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, daughters of a deceased man named  Zelophehad who had no sons, stood together before Moses, other leaders, and all the congregation of Israel and made their request known (vv.1-3). The old adage says “together we stand; divided we fall.” Scripture says “ye have not, because ye ask not.” These sisters asked, “Why should the name of our father be removed from among his family because he had no son” (v.4)? So “Moses brought their case before the Lord” (v.5). The first step to accomplishing anything is to take it to the Lord; God does answer prayers. Their request for the possession of their father’s inheritance was unchallenged; they were granted the desires of their heart. In every generation God has used women to impact change against all odds.

1Peter 1:3-5

Peter continued addressing these Jewish and Gentile believers, who were scattered throughout the world because of persecution. He declared to them that they were the “elect” (v.2), the chosen of God. While on his way to the garden, Jesus told his disciples,“You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last…” (John 15:16, NRSV). In spite of persecution, believers are kingdom builders and have many reasons to praise God. If we had ten thousand tongues, we could never give Him the thanks He deserves for His infinite mercy.

He has given us a living hope. Our former hope, the worldly hope, was dead and offered us no chance of eternal life. God’s gift of a new birth through the resurrected Christ is to an “inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (v.4). Believers, the heirs of the kingdom of God by faith in Jesus Christ, have an inheritance that is imperishable. The Amplified Bible describes it as being “beyond the reach of change.” All “thanks go to the Father, who has made us suitable to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints” (Colossians 1:12). Peter further describes this glorious inheritance as being undefiled, which comes from the Greek word amiantos. There is no bodily imperfection and nothing unbecoming in his life and conduct. “It does not fade;” it’s everlasting and “reserved in heaven for you, who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time” (v.5, Amp Bible). What a blessed assurance this is!

1 Peter 1:3 (NRSV)

God’s elect – both Jewish and Gentile believers – were scattered throughout the world because of persecution on every hand. As a result of their persecution and dispersion, the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world. The reality is we will suffer since Christ suffered and died for us. Yet, even in the midst of our suffering, we have the blessed assurance of his comfort – “the God of mercies and the God of all consolation” (2 Corinthians 1:3b). We’re reminded in 1 John 3:13 that we are not to marvel if the world hates us. Recall that Cain showed no love for his little brother Abel. He killed him out of jealousy because God accepted Abel’s sacrifice and rejected his. As peculiar treasure, we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44) and count our trials and tribulations all joy (James 1:2). They are to strengthen us so we can encourage someone else who may be going through the same thing.

He goes on to say that all praise goes to “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” for His abundant mercy by which He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (v.3). Thank God for His mercy; He is worthy to be blessed. We have been spiritually transformed to live because he lives. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Thank God for having mercy on us. Not only are we born again, but we also have living hope. Through faith in the resurrected Jesus, “all things are possible for those who believe and trust” (Mark 9:23), and with him “there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 24:14b).