Author: evangelist_breland

Acts 1:1-11

The Acts of the Apostles began as Luke, the author, referred to “the former account” he made to Theophilus (Luke 1:3) of all that Jesus began both to do and teach (v.1) until the day He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50-52). Acts continues the story from the Gospel of Luke. Before His ascension, however, Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to His chosen apostles (v.2). Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to lead Him in making preparation for the end of His earthly ministry. We, too, must allow the Holy Spirit, God’s inner agent, to lead us and work the works of God in our daily lives. After Jesus’ suffering, many infallible witnesses saw Him alive forty days, ministering about the kingdom of God (v.3).

While together, Jesus commanded His disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the soon coming Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, (v.4) “until they were clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49, NIV). Jerusalem was where their ministry would begin. He told them that John baptized with water, but they will be baptized, empowered, and united with the Holy Spirit soon (v.5, AMP). They asked Him if the kingdom of Israel would be restored at the coming of the Holy Spirit (v.6). Jesus said that the Father had authority over times and seasons, and it wasn’t for them to know (v.7). Instead of concern for what was totally in the Father’s hands, Jesus appointed them to the mission ahead of them to which He had made them responsible. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (v.8).

Jesus’ disciples watched while He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Two angels in white apparel said that that same Jesus will come back just as He left (vv. 9-11). This ended His earthly ministry. Now we are empowered through the Holy Spirit for witnessing. When He returns with the clouds, every eye will see him. Let’s get ready for when He comes.

Matthew 15:10-20

Jesus called the multitude to Him and told them to hear and understand (v.10); it’s not what goes into a man’s mouth that defiles him. It’s what comes out of his mouth that defiles him (v.11). This conversation (vv. 1-7) resulted from Jesus’ rebuke of the Scribes and the Pharisees. They asked Him why His disciples transgressed the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before eating. Jesus answered by asking them why they broke God’s commandments for the sake of keeping man’s traditions, making God’s commandments of no effect.  He called these religious leaders hypocrites for Isaiah’s prophecy said that “these people draw near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach the commandments of men as doctrines” (vv. 8-9; Isaiah 29:13).

After Jesus addressed the crowd, His disciples came to Him and asked, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” (v. 12) Jesus told His disciples to leave them alone. Our heavenly Father will root up every plant which He has not planted. The leaders were blind, leading the blind because they did not know the Gospel truth. Jesus told them that if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch (vv. 13-14). How impossible it is for the blind to lead others that are blind! We need spiritual leaders that have been planted by God and know His truth. Then they can lead us from spiritual blindness.

Peter asked Jesus to explain this parable to them (v. 15). Apparently His disciples didn’t understand what He told the Scribes and the Pharisees in verse eleven. Therefore, He rebuked His disciples, “Are you also still without understanding (v. 16)? Don’t you yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated (v. 17)? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man (v. 18). For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, and blasphemies (v. 19). These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man” (v. 20).

Give God glory today for a heart prepared for true worship!

We live in a world where all mankind has been declared sinners and have fallen from God’s grace. We belong to Him, His punishment is always righteous, and His love endures forever.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” (V. 16). God was so gracious that He sent His Son, who freely gave His life as the gift of salvation. Jesus declared that there’s no greater love than this – one lays down his own life for his friends (15:13). “God didn’t send Jesus into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved,” (v. 17). Matthew told us in his Gospel (1:21) that Mary would give birth to a Son to be named Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

In order to reap that benefit, we must believe in Him. That means we must trust Him, rely on, and cling to Him, and we will not be condemned. He who does not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God is condemned already (v.18). Jesus was the light that came into the world. However, He was condemnation because men’s deeds were evil, and they loved darkness rather than light (v.19). All who are practicing evil hate the light and reject it because it will expose their deeds (v.20). “But he who does the truth – morally, ethically, and spiritually right – comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done, depending on God (v.21).” God’s plan of salvation restores those who will believe by faith. Lovers of darkness reject Jesus’ light and condemn themselves. Will you accept His light today and reflect His truth in your living? Give God glory!

2 Samuel 19:1-8, NKJV

The passage began with Joab being told the king was “weeping and mourning for Absalom,” (v.1). Joab was the head of David’s army and wasn’t pleased to hear of the king’s sorrow for a son who had rebelled against him, trying to overthrow his kingship. He expected the king to greet his army with commendations deserved for victory; instead, it was a day of mourning. All the people heard the king’s weeping said, “The king is grieving for his son” (v.2). Seemingly out of respect for the king, the people went back stealthilyinto the city that day as people who were ashamed after fleeing in battle (v.3). The king covered his face, and cried out with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son (v.4)!”

Joab came into the house to the king, and harshly censured him (vv.5-7, paraphrased). He told David that today he had disgraced his servants who saved his life, his sons and daughters, his wives, and his concubines (v.5), in that he loved his enemies and hated his friends. Joab declared that David didn’t respect either princes or servants. He perceived that if Absalom had lived and all of them had died this day, David would have been well pleased (v.6). He commanded David to arise, go out, and speak comfort to his servants. He swore by the Lord, if David didn’t, they would all desert him by night. No evil he’d ever had from his youth until now would be worse (v.7). Then the king arose and sat in the gate, and they told all the people where he was. All the Israelites came from their tents to before him (v.8).

David accepted Joab’s harsh rebuke, pulled himself together, and stopped the loud, excessive mourning.Those in authority are to be respected; sometimes they must be censured for actions taken. Leaders are accountable to God because “all authority comes from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1). David listened to Joab because everyone deserves respect. Yes, David “cried out with a loud voice,” mourning the death of his son; we too mourn for those we love. Let us as believers hold firmly to our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He promises us a never-ending stream of love, comfort, and hope. Give God glory!

Exodus 2:1-10; 6:20; Numbers 26:59; Hebrews 11:6, 23, NKJV

In Exodus 1:8-17 after Joseph’s death, there was a new   Egyptian king. He didn’t know about Joseph, his divine blessings, and how God had raised him up to rule over all Egypt, second only in command to Pharaoh. The new king only knew that these foreigners were progressing and had become numerous; he saw them as a threat to the Egyptians. He put taskmasters over the Hebrews, who enslaved them and severely oppressed them. Then he issued an order to the midwives to kill every Hebrew baby boy at birth. They were so numerous that Pharaoh feared they might rise up against him. The midwives, however, feared God and disobeyed Pharaoh’s order, refusing to kill innocent babies.

This passage began with an unidentified man from the house of Levi taking an unidentified daughter of Levi as his wife (v.1). She conceived and had a son.  When she saw how beautiful her son was; she was defiant of the Pharaoh’s command and hid him three months (v.2). When she could no longer hide her son, Jochebed (6:20) took him and put him in an ark made of bulrushes and laid it in the reeds by the river’s bank (v.3). His big sister stood afar off, keeping watch to know what would be done to him (v.4). Jochebed’s response to her son’s birth was love and hope for a better tomorrow for him. She wanted to keep him alive; therefore, by faith she hid him. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Perhaps she didn’t know what tomorrow held for him, but she did know who held tomorrow.

Watch how God rewarded the mother’s faithfulness. After Pharaoh’s daughter found the baby, Jochebed, who was his mother, became his nurse and received pay for her service. She taught him to love God and be loyal to his own people. That’s what mother’s should do. Jochebed is listed as a hero of the faith (Hebrews 11:23). God’s script was perfectly designed; He stirred Jochebed’s heart to do what she felt was right. He’ll do the same for you. Give God glory and happy mothers’ day.