Isaiah 50:4- “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary…”
It’s hard to believe that we’re at the end of this year! God has been amazing as He has kept watch over us and brought us to this special day. Whether you are in a sunny place or warm snugly space, we wish you the happiest Christmas ever. Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you in January. Wonderful Jesus!
Jeremiah 23:5-6-“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth…Now, this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. NKJV
I have found that I can read the Bible repeatedly and still miss important things that God says within a passage. Such is the case with the verses I have chosen to blog about today. This messianic passage is filled with so much hope and promises that it is a perfect verse for the Christmas season.
The Lord begins this verse by stating, “Behold, the days are coming!” It’s an announcement about the birth of Jesus! The prophet declared that the day was coming when a different kind of Shepherd would come onto the scene. Yes, it first refers to the wicked or bad shepherds of the land, but then it goes on to speak of a different kind of shepherd:
I will set up shepherds over them who will feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, nor shall they be lacking,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:4 NKJV
God greatly loves His people, and our well-being is His top priority. So when He had enough of the people being destroyed, scattered, and abused, He took matters into His own hands and said:
Behold, the days are coming,”
Jeremiah 23:5a NKJV
God promised that a new Shepherd was coming, and He would be different from all of the rest. This Shepherd would not only feed God’s sheep, but He would remove fear and dismay from among the people, and they would no longer have lack. This reminds me of the 23rd Psalm, where David spoke of the Shepherd:
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.
Psalm 23:1 CSB
And again when David wrote:
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 CSB
These are beautiful promises to the people of God that we can look forward to experiencing with the Shepherd. But the thing that jumped out to me in this verse is when God said:
In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 23:6 NKJV
We understand that the Lord has many names which tell us of His character. In my previous post, we saw that He is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. When God spoke to Joseph in a dream and told him to take Mary as his wife, God gave Him a different name, the name of Jesus!
“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-21 NKJV
Jesus is so amazing that only one name could not be used to identify Him. As Jesus, He is our Savior. Yet Jeremiah brings up a new name for our Shepherd, The Lord our Righteousness!
Jehovah or Yahweh Tsidqenu is one of the divine names of God. It is translated the Lord our Righteousness. In other words, God tells the people through Jeremiah the prophet that His Shepherd’s name would be Jehovah Tsidqenu, and He would impart righteousness to mankind.
Righteousness means to be in a right relationship with God the Father. It is believing and trusting in Him. The Strong’s concordance describes righteousness as a sense of rightness, justness, and what is right. When we come to Christ, there is a sense of rightness, of doing what is right to have fellowship with God.
The shepherds of the land were the opposite of righteous. They were cruel, divisive, and destructive. But God’s Shepherd was coming, and He would be called The Lord our Righteousness; because He would judge the people rightly and restore them to a right relationship with the Father.
Paul spoke of the work of Jesus’ righteousness in our lives:
God presented Him as the mercy seat by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. God presented Him to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:25-26 CSB
Jesus was born centuries ago, in the flesh, that He might one day give His life for our sins. It was through His blood that we were justified (declared righteous) in a legal sense. It’s not that we are righteous, but through His blood, we have been declared righteous so that when God looks at us, He sees the Blood of Jesus and His righteousness, not ours!
Peter helps us to get a better picture of this in his letter:
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:24-25 NKJV
Jesus paid for our sins in His own body on the cross so that we could be made righteous and therefore live a righteous life. Paul wrote:
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
There was nothing wrong with Jesus. He had no sin and knew no sin, yet, for us, He was made sin so that we could be made righteous. What a sweet exchange! What an amazing gift of grace!
If Christmas is about gifts, it’s certainly not about the gifts under the tree. It’s about the Lord our Righteousness, Yahweh Tsidqenu, who came to die for our sins. He executed judgment, taught the sheep, removed fear, and gave us eternal life. These are true gifts, and He gives us more each day.
This holiday season is a great time to renew our minds about how we view Christmas. Am I saying that you shouldn’t give or receive gifts? Absolutely not! But the perspective of Christmas is not about what we can give and receive in this world, but about the greatest gift ever given to mankind, Jesus!
Yes! Behold, the days are coming…and they have come! For He was born, He lived, He died, then He rose from the dead to give us the gifts that keep on giving! Wonderful Jesus!
Isaiah 11:1-2-There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. NKJV
Isaiah prophecies on different occasions of the coming Messiah. In Isaiah chapter 7, he tells of the Messiah who will be conceived of a virgin and that He will be called Immanuel. In Isaiah 9, the Messiah has additional names given to Him, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. In the ninth chapter, Isaiah reveals that He will be of the seed of David, and His kingdom will not end.
As we look at chapter 11 of Isaiah, we are again reminded of the coming Messiah and his ancestry. In this chapter, however, we are told that He is from the stem of Jesse, David’s father. Not only is He of the lineage of David, but He is like David, coming from Jesse, a shoot. Or, as we say today, “A chip off the block.”
In Isaiah 6, we find an interesting reference to the Messiah:
But yet a tenth will be in it, and will return and be for consuming, as a terebinth tree or as an oak, whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.”
Isaiah 6:13 NKJV
Isaiah wrote in chapter 6 that the Davidic kingdom would come to an end, but there would be a remnant remaining. Of that remnant, a holy seed would come. We find in Isaiah 11 a similar reference to that stump or root out of Jesse.
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:1-2 NKJV
As I searched through the commentaries to gain insight into what was happening, I found the statement that this Rod from the stem of Jesse was referred to as a Royal Hope! That resonated with my spirit, and I want to share why!
In chapters 9 and 10, Isaiah prophecies the judgment that will come upon Samaria and Assyria. The sin of the people and the darkness of their lives were indicative of their refusal to obey God, and so His hand is stretched out against them. But even still, God had promised David that his lineage would have a forever kingdom, so a remnant is left. Out of this remnant, the Messiah would come, a Royal Hope for the people of God!
In the days that Isaiah prophesied and for hundreds of years later, David’s kingdom dwindled until it was no longer recognizable. He had descendants, but they no longer ruled the kingdom. But approximately 600 years after this prophecy, the Messiah was born to the world. He was the Branch of Jesse and the Seed of David. He was Royalty twice over, from the royal lineage of David and God’s heavenly lineage. And He was not only the hope of Israel but the hope of the world!
For this reason therefore I have called for you, to see you and speak with you, because for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”
Acts 28:20 NKJV
When he stood before King Agrippa, Paul stated that he had been arrested because of the hope of Israel! We know that Jesus was the reason he was in chains, and here we see Him referenced as that hope!
And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.”
Romans 15:12 NKJV
This is the prophecy from Isaiah 11, showing that the world would have access to the same hope that the Jewish nation was waiting for, and His name is Jesus!
Isaiah saw the state of his countrymen, and that did not give him hope. He saw the future and the kingdoms that would place them in bondage and strip them of the glory they had tasted from the Lord. He knew the times ahead would be difficult at best, and he told them there was hope and He was coming! Over two thousand years ago, Hope was born in a manger in Bethlehem, and they called Him Jesus.
It doesn’t matter what our environment looks like. It is not important what our past entails. Today is not a whole lot different from what it was in Isaiah’s day. People are still arrogantly throwing their weight around. People are still refusing to bow their knees to Jesus. People are still bent on living life the way that they see fit. And amidst all of this is darkness, chaos, and confusion.
Mental health issues are on the rise, and people seem to be lost and uncertain about tomorrow, with a sense of hopelessness at the root of it all. But that’s okay because the same Royal Hope that stepped out of eternity into Mary’s womb, then died on the rugged cross, rose that we might have hope today!
The same Spirit of the Lord that Isaiah said would rest upon Him is still available to all. He still oozes with the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. His knowledge is limitless, and He is God! He is everything we can ever need and all we can hope for!
Don’t think of Jesus as the Babe in the manger this holiday season. He was a Babe in a manger; now He holds all power in His hand! He is King over all kings of the land. He is Lord over every lord in the world. And He has made Himself available to us. I once heard a preacher say, “You don’t have any trouble; all you need is faith in God!” I believe that despite your trouble, the best decision you can ever make is to place your faith in God! Reach out to Him and receive the most precious gift this season you can ever have, the gift of Jesus, our Royal Hope! Wonderful Jesus!
Acts 10:38- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. NKJV
I was a teenager when I was first anointed with oil. The pastor took a bottle of oil that represented the Holy Spirit, poured oil in his hand, placed that hand on my forehead, and prayed for me. Not long after that, I was anointed by another minister. He poured water from Israel over my hands and prophesied that my hands would be healing hands. It’s interesting to me, that as I decided to write on this verse, I remembered both of those incidents.
But the incident that touched me beyond human intellect and physical boundaries happened in a dream. I had been fasting and praying for God’s glory to manifest in my life. One night, in my dream, the Glory of God showed up. It was a thick cloud and I was twirling in it, enjoying His presence, when I heard a voice. The voice spoke out of it and said, “I have anointed you!” Then I woke up. But I was so overwhelmed with the realness of the dream that I got up from my bed and went into another room and worshipped Him.
In our text, Peter was talking to Cornelius. He told Cornelius:
The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached
Acts 10:36-37 NKJV
Peter referenced the day that John baptized Jesus because on that day, God sent His Holy Spirit to alight up Jesus and He never left Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17). At that time, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.
After Jesus was anointed by God, things got really interesting. Peter said that Jesus
went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Acts 10:38b NKJV
I have heard many pastors and teachers say that Jesus was able to heal because He was God. And in a sense, that it is true. However, Peter states that it was the anointing of God, at His baptism, that empowered Him to heal all who were oppressed of the devil, because God was with Him.
Matthew 8 is my favorite chapter on the works of Jesus. It seems that Jesus went from one experience to another. First, He cleansed a leper by placing His hand on him. Then He healed the centurion’s servant, by speaking the word. Later, He and his disciples went to visit in Peter’s home and Peter’s mother-in-law was ill. With a touch, the fever completely left her, and she got up and served them. That evening Jesus cast out demonic spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. The lame walked, the blind received their sight, the dead were raised, and multitudes were healed of their diseases.
And here, Peter is sharing the gospel message with Cornelius, the centurion, and he is quick to point out that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power! While the anointing was certainly available for healing, it was also available for Jesus to fulfill God’s plan for His life!
God anointed Peter, the apostle to the Jews. When Peter ministered, unusual things happened. In his first sermon, over 3,000 people were added to the church. We already saw how he raised Dorcas from the dead, and we read how people were healed by his shadow falling on them.
Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, was also anointed by God. One night while he was preaching, a man fell out the window and broke his neck. Paul wasn’t worried, he just raised him back up! The anointing on their lives affected the people around them and they ministered as Jesus had.
Today, most ministers are more concerned about the structure of their sermon than they are about the power of God manifesting in their midst. I guess, it’s because we don’t see the move of God in such a magnificent way.
But just for a moment, let’s pretend that the Bible is true when it said that God never changes and He would never leave us. If that is true, then we should see miracles taking place in our lives. We should actually expect God to move in our services and to see healings, miracles, and breakthroughs! As God is calling people into ministry, He is anointing them to do the same things that happened in the Bible, if we can believe it. Maybe not in the same way, or to the same degree, but things should happen when we pray because God has also anointed us!
It shall come to pass in that day
That his burden will be taken away from your shoulder,
And his yoke from your neck,
And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil.Isaiah 10:27 NKJV
God spoke to His people in the book of Isaiah. He told them that the hand of the enemy would not be against them for long because the day was coming when He would take the burden off of their shoulders. The day was coming when the yoke would be removed off their neck. Their sins had led them to a place of bondage, but God promised them that when the yoke was removed from their neck, the anointing oil would destroy the yoke. So not only would He make sure the yoke was removed, but the anointing would see to it, that the yoke was destroyed!
As His anointed people, we are to be His hands removing the yoke off of people lives, and then walking in the anointing enough to have it released into the lives of others so that the yoke is destroyed. A yoke that is removed can be taken up again, but a yoke that has been destroyed has no more power in it!
In these last days, we will need a lot of things moving forward to fulfill the call and the purpose on our lives. But one thing we cannot afford to be without is God’s anointing! It should be said of us, “how God anointed His people and they went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil, because God was with them!” I don’t know about you, but I want to be used by God and want to allow His anointing to flow through me as it flowed through Jesus and the saints in the book of Acts! Wonderful Jesus!
Acts 9:32-Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. NKJV
Paul had a dramatic conversion in Damascus. He began his ministry by preaching in Damascus, though many were hesitant to trust him. However, the Jews were not as skeptical about his conversion and plotted to kill him for switching sides. Now the persecutor has become the persecuted. In Damascus, he is let down from the wall in a large basket. And in Jerusalem, they attempted to kill him. So the disciples helped him to escape.
Paul, being a Jew amongst Jews, felt compelled to preach this gospel to his brethren. But it was neither his purpose, nor his time. It was time for Peter to minister to the Jews.
In verse 32, Peter is traveling throughout the region to spread the message of Jesus. As the apostle to the Jews, he is fulfilling the mission that Jesus had given to him. As we continue to read in the ninth chapter, we find that Peter has come to Lydda.
Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda.
Acts 9:32 NKJV
Lydda was a city where the people of Jerusalem traveled to connect with the route that would take them to Gaza and Egypt. It is believed that the people of Lydda were most likely of Jewish heritage because it was a Jewish city with people who attended the feasts in Jerusalem, according to the Maccabees and Keener. Lydda was also one of the ten governing districts of the time. And so, it would make sense that Peter would travel to such a significant city as he purposed to share the gospel.
When he arrived in Lydda, he found a man named Aeneas:
There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed.
Acts 9:33 NKJV
According to Keener, Luke often mentioned a person’s illness and how long they suffered. In this case, Aeneas had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years. We can speculate as to why he was paralyzed, but it is not important in the context of what is happening. When Peter saw him, Peter spoke to him:
And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately.
Acts 9:34 NKJV
Immediately! Just like that! The man got up, completely healed. Not by Peter’s power, but by the power of Jesus’ name! Luke draws our attention to the fact that Peter was able to heal the man because Jesus had empowered His disciples to continue the work that He had started. As a result of this amazing healing, Luke stated:
So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
Luke 9:35 NKJV
This miracle was so unusual, so supernatural that it caused people to give their lives to the Lord in Lydda and Sharon. Although we know and understand that everyone isn’t drawn to Jesus who sees or hears of a miracle, many are drawn to Him. And so Peter has the distinct pleasure to lead many to the Lord because God used him to heal Aeneas.
Not far from Lydda was the city of Joppa. And while Peter was in Lydda, they sent for him:
And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.
Acts 9:38 NKJV
The disciples had obviously heard that Peter had been used of God to heal Aeneas. This would have been important to them because they had a need for a miracle in Joppa:
At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.
Acts 9:36-37 NKJV
Tabitha had been a woman of good works! The people of Joppa loved her because she had done many things for the people of Joppa. Maybe she clothed the poor, or provided clothes for children, or gave to good causes after she made her money. We can’t be sure! All we know is that the women showed Peter the beautiful tunics and garments she made while she was alive when he arrived in the upper room, so they had to a significant part of her life and ministry.
And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.
Acts 9:39 NKJV
It wasn’t weeping widows that the situation needed at that time, although we have all lost a loved one and wept over them. What’s sadder than people weeping over a loved one, is somebody dying and no one cried because they were gone!
If they were going to get a miracle, then they needed somebody who believed God would give them a miracle. And that’s why they had sent for Peter. And when he arrived, he assessed the situation and put everybody out of the room.
But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.
Acts 9:40-41 NKJV
Have you ever wondered how long you have to pray to get a miracle? I have wondered. I think the answer to that varies in time, just not in assurance. I believe you pray until you have an assurance that God has answered you! So Peter prayed and then commanded her to arise. When he did, Tabitha opened her eyes. She was alive!
Peter had walked with Jesus for three and half years, according to scholars. As a result, he had seen Jesus do some incredible works! Including healing someone who was paralyzed and raising the dead. And now, as His disciple, Peter was doing the same things.
Lately, I have been praying to see these kinds of miracles in the church again. I hear about miracles around the world, and sometimes amongst the people I know. But I have been seeking the face of God to see Him once again move amongst His people with favor and power, with signs and wonders.
The picture I have posted is of a woman of God named Delia Knox. As I was reading this section of chapter nine, Sis. Delia Knox came to my mind, and I believe it was for me to share her testimony with you. Delia was in a car accident that left her paralyzed. Listen to hear testimony and see the God of miracles at work! Wonderful Jesus!
Acts 9:11-12- So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him so that he might receive his sight.” NKJV
God has a way of bringing people into our lives that become lifelong friends. Some of those people we would have never imagined that we would talk with, let alone call our friends. Such was the case with Ananias and Saul.
Ananias lived in Damascus. Damascus had become home to many new believers. As one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, it was strategically located for commerce and protection, and many Jews found their way there for a new life.
Paul was headed to Damascus to look for believers, that he might arrest them and have them prosecuted for their faith in Jesus.
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:1-2 NKJV
However, things didn’t go as Saul planned them to go. Instead of going into Damascus and terrorizing the believers, he had an encounter with the Lord!
As he traveled he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him [displaying the glory and majesty of Christ]; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice [from heaven] saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting and oppressing Me?” And Saul said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He answered, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 9:3-6 AMP
I find it interesting that as soon as Saul sees the light from heaven, and hears the voice from heaven, he recognizes that the Lord has interrupted his journey. But he doesn’t know who the Lord is! So Jesus tells Saul that He, Jesus, is Lord, and He’s the One whom Saul is oppressing and persecuting. Side note- when people are harassing us, persecuting us, attacking us for the sake of the gospel, it is really Jesus whom they are attacking. If we learn to trust Him to vindicate Himself (and I say “we”), then we can experience greater times of victory!
Jesus told Saul to continue on his journey to Damascus, and there he would find out all that he needed to know moving forward. So Saul arrives in Damascus, without sight, and in need of someone to guide him to a place to stay. While Saul is there, he is fasting and praying, and he does so for three days and nights. Paul then has a vision, and in the vision, he sees a man named Ananias who will come to him and lay hands on him so that he might receive his sight.
Ananias was a godly man and an obedient disciple of Jesus. I know this because Jesus assigned him the task of going to Saul to pray for him.
…And the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he answered, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul; for he is praying [there], and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him, so that he may regain his sight.”
Acts 9:10-12 AMP
Jesus gives Ananias specific details about where he is being sent and to whom he is being sent. Jesus told him to go to the street called Straight. He told Ananias that a man named Judas lived on that street, and he had a house guest, Saul of Tarsus. Jesus tells Ananias that Saul is in prayer and has had a vision that someone named Ananias will come and pray for him that his sight might be restored. Jesus told Ananias, he was the man!
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.”
Acts 9:13-14 NKJV
Ananias is greatly concerned about this assignment, and I can understand Ananias’ position. It’s almost like he felt a need to tell Jesus about Saul, in case Jesus didn’t know! He reminds Jesus that this is Saul who has done a lot of harm to His people in Jerusalem. He informs Jesus that he has heard all about Saul! And he tells Jesus that he heard that the only reason Saul came to Damascus was to do the same thing in Damascus that he had done in Jerusalem, persecute the believers! But Jesus knew exactly who he was sending Ananias to pray for.
But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
Acts 9:15 NKJV
So Ananias went to visit Saul as Jesus had instructed. Ananias’ hesitancy was completely understandable. After all, the Saul Jesus was referring to was not the Saul Ananias had heard about. For Saul headed towards Damascus as an enemy of the people of God but arrived as one having had an encounter with Jesus! And this sudden change would have been suspect coming from anybody but the Lord! So, Ananias talked with Saul, prayed with Saul, and baptized Saul. But Jesus saved Saul, delivered him from himself and religion, and filled him with His precious Spirit. And Saul immediately began proclaiming Him in the city!
Ananias was instrumental in Saul’s acceptance in the city of Damascus. Like him, others knew of Saul of Tarsus and why he had come to Damascus. So Ananias had to take Saul around and introduce him to the believers, and give him an opportunity to share his testimony, validating it by sharing how Jesus sent him to pray for Saul. Two men who would have been at odds have now become brothers and friends in Christ. For when Jesus brings you together, you have to accept that He knows what He is doing.
But when it pleased God…to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem…but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem…
Galatians 1:15-18 NKJV
Saul speaks of receiving the revelation of Jesus. That happened on the road to Damascus. He was then led to Damascus, where he and Ananias became friends. Then he went to Arabia for a period of time but returned back to Damascus. Three years later, he went to Jerusalem. What’s my point? He had a friend and brother in Damascus named Ananias. After his time in Arabia, he went back to spend time in Damascus with Ananias and the believers. It appears he was there for at least three years. They had bonded as brothers, and they had become friends.
Jesus has a way of bringing the strangest of people together as friends. I have experienced meeting someone I initially didn’t want to have anything to do with, and later they became dear to my heart. I have also experienced when someone took offense with me immediately, without really knowing me, and later became a dear friend.
Sometimes we have the facts right about people, as Ananias did regarding Saul. He knew Saul’s past, he just hadn’t heard of Saul’s present or future! And sometimes, we have it all wrong. The point is, I have learned that in Jesus, some of the strangest people you can meet, can indeed become a dear friend, and they will have you asking, who would have thought?
We need to keep our hearts and ears open to Jesus when dealing with people, especially when sharing our faith in the Lord Jesus. In doing so, you may run into a Saul and Ananias experience that can change both of your lives forever! Wonderful Jesus!
Acts 8:30-31- So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Amazing things happen in our lives when God is involved. Things that can seem small to us can become the catalyst for God to show up in an unusual way. Such was the case in the life of this eunuch.
And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
Acts 8:27-28 NKJV
Over the years, I have found great value in the reading of God’s word. Although, I must admit that I spend more time reading it during the summers and holiday seasons when I am off than I do when I’m working. And I have found that listening to the Bible is a great supplement when I am busy. There’s no excuse for neglecting the reading and hearing of God’s word!
The eunuch was sitting in his chariot, reading a scroll of the prophet Isaiah, not realizing his life was about to change. Luke wrote that the man had traveled from Ethiopia to Jerusalem to worship God. Maybe he also had business to take care of for the queen, but that isn’t mentioned in this text, as Luke didn’t seem to think it was important.
When I Googled the distance between Ethiopia and Jerusalem, I found that they are approximately 2,500 miles apart. Today it would take about 3.5 days of continuous driving to travel that distance. When the eunuch traveled, by chariot, it would have taken over a month to travel one way. To travel such a great distance in a chariot, he had to have been hungry for God!
As a teenager, I became serious about wanting to know God. One of my favorite scriptures at the time was a part of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount”:
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.Matthew 5:6 NKJV
It was my greatest longing, to know God. It is still my desire, although I know Him better today than I did at that time. That verse brought hope and comfort to me that as I pursued God, I would be satisfied. I see that hunger for God in this eunuch.
The eunuch was a man of great authority. He served the queen of Ethiopia and was in charge of her treasury, similar to a chief financial officer. He was also a man of wealth. Yet, he understood that there was something more that he needed to fill the void in his life. So he was in pursuit of God, not realizing that he needed a Savior!
Luke wrote, that God was moving on behalf of the eunuch before he even knew it:
Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. So he arose and went.
Acts 8: 26-27a NKJV
In obedience to the direction of the angel, Philip headed down the road that led from Jerusalem to Gaza. While he was walking down the road, he spotted a chariot. Riding in that chariot was the eunuch who was reading the book of Isaiah. Look at God!
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
Acts 8:29 NKJV
Philip picks up his speed and catches up to the moving chariot. As he got near, he realized that the eunuch was reading from Isaiah. Was he reading out loud? Since Philip heard him, he had to have been reading out loud. So Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading?
And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.
Acts 8:31 NKJV
There was such a hunger, such an interest in the eunuch for understanding, that he wanted to hear what Philip’s thoughts were on the scriptures. So he invited him to sit in his chariot with him. This probably caused the driver to wonder about the wisdom of a complete stranger getting in the chariot, but Philip was now an invited guest of the eunuch. The thing that grips me every time is that he asked, “How can I (understand) unless someone guides (teach) me?
As an educator, I have spent years teaching students, but I have also worked with my colleagues as we push each other to be better at our craft. We often talk about how nice it would be to actually have students in front of us who really wanted to learn! More often than not, we feel like we are trying to make the horse drink, when he should realize he is thirsty! Philip didn’t have this problem! He had an eager student waiting to learn!
I believe the eunuch sensed that this was a divine hook-up. I believe he realized that only God could have provided an “instructor” while he was reading a text he did not comprehend, but one that was crucial to him going to the next level in God. Luke wrote that Philip started at that verse in Isaiah 53 and preached Jesus to the eunuch as they traveled down the road. The eunuch (I wish we had been given a name) was so convinced in his heart that he was hearing the truth he had been waiting on, that he asked Philip to be baptized.
Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Acts 8:36-38 NKJV
And just like that, another soul was added to the kingdom of God!
As I was rereading this passage last night, I had the thought, “What will it take for people to have this type of surrender to God today? What will it take? And this morning, the Spirit of God spoke to my heart and said, “The same thing it has always taken, a hungry heart!”
The eunuch was hungry for God. He didn’t know that the thing that stood between his hunger and a deeper relationship with God was actually not a thing, but a Person. The Person Jesus Christ! But when Jesus was explained to him through scripture, it resonated in his spirit and he knew Jesus was what was missing in his heart. When he received that truth, he was filled! He was satisfied knowing that it was well with his soul and he had been reconciled to God the Father through Jesus the Son!
For those of us who are already saved, what will it take for us to know God in a deeper way? The same thing it took for us to know Him from the start! A hunger and a thirst for Him and for righteousness! Nothing has changed! As I am journeying through the book of Acts, I find my hunger and my thirst for Him increasing. There is something truly anointed about this book. Understanding how Jesus transformed their lives and even their communities by His Spirit, and studying how the Spirit of God moved on their behalf makes me hunger and thirst even more.
So basically, even though there are some things we shall never hunger or thirst for again, knowing Jesus shouldn’t be one of them. What will it take for you to hunger and thirst more for Jesus? What will it take? Wonderful Jesus!
Acts 6:12- And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. NKJV
Years ago, I read a testimony of a Russian who had become a Christian. When it was discovered that he believed in Jesus, he was arrested and sent to prison, in a cold and remote part of the land. To punish him, he was put outside in the elements with no clothes. While he was in the bitter cold, he prayed and worshipped God, and was warmed. When they returned him to the prison cell, other prisoners were so impressed, that they wanted to hear his testimony and many got saved. Such is the way of many believers. We are often targeted by the enemy to stop us, but in the end, if we allow God to use us, God will use that situation for His Glory! Such was the case for this young man we know as Stephen!
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Acts 6:8 NKJV
In my previous blog, we saw how the church grew rapidly and had to accommodate this growth by adding new leaders to help with the ministry. Stephen was one of those men, and Luke told us that Stephen was full of faith and power. In other words, he was on fire for God. As he handled the church’s business, he also did great signs and wonders among the people. Can’t you just picture the scene: widows were coming for money to meet their needs, and Stephen was ministering to their other needs (healing and deliverance) while they waited. That’s what I pray will begin to happen in our churches!
As God was using Stephen mightily, the devil got busy!
Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen.
Acts 6:9 NKJV
First, the devil tried to distract Stephen from the work by sending people to argue with him. I know you’ve met those kind of people. The ones who want to argue with you about tithing not being scriptural, or the Bible was written by hypocrites, or there are two creation stories in the Bible, and my favorite, the Bible contradicts itself! This is the first tactic to get us sidetracked. But Stephen didn’t fall for this tactic. Luke wrote that they were unable to withstand the wisdom of God that Stephen used to handle their disputes. This is good advice for us today! If we trust God when people try to get us into their silly arguments, we will speak with such wisdom, that they will not be able to handle it.
Such was the case when the Jehovah’s Witnesses started visiting our home many years ago. The first time they came, it was two people “sharing” their propaganda. But as they talked with me, I was able to use God’s word to cause them to stumble. That didn’t go over too well with them, so the next week, they sent someone more skilled in their “doctrine”. That didn’t work either, so they sent the “general” who was over them to speak with me, and again, I was not moved by their lies. In my living room, my toddler was saying something like, “Close the door, Mommy!” I knew then that the Spirit of God was trying to get my attention. So I told them they would never convince me, and apparently, I would not convince them, asked them not to return to my home, and closed the door!
When that didn’t work, they sent men to lie on Stephen.
Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council.
Acts 6:11-12 NKJV
If the devil can’t confuse us, and make us feel stupid, then he will send people to start rumors and lies about us. How many of us have been lied on by others simply because of our faith in Jesus? It happened to Jesus, it happened to Stephen, and will happen to us if we are living for God!
Stephen was arrested. He didn’t do anything worthy of an arrest, but he was brought to the council based on the lies that were being told about him. With no investigation, he’s dragged into court. But there was something unusual about Stephen. He was full of the Holy Spirit and the anointing of God radiated from his being.
And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Acts 6:15 NKJV
I don’t even know what that looks like! But I imagine that the Spirit of God was manifested in his body in such a way that he glowed with the Glory! You have to be pretty dim-witted to notice the Glory of God on an individual and not to respond to Him.
When the high priest asked Stephen if the charges against him were true, he preached a message that was recorded in scripture! He started with Abraham being called of Mesopotamia, moved on to the patriarchs and how they sold Joseph into slavery, how God used Joseph’s horrendous experience of betrayal to provide for His people during a famine, and how they carried Jacob’s body back to Shechem to bury him. He spoke of the bondage that Israel suffered at the hands of the Egyptians and how God sent Moses to deliver His people. And then he got really fired up and said:
“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the law by the direction of angels and have not kept it.”
Acts 7:51-53 NKJV
At this point, the councilmen became outraged to the point of gnashing their teeth! I assume they were growling! After all, Stephe called them stiff-necked, uncircumcised in their hearts and ears, and stubborn people! He reminded them that they had persecuted many prophets in the past who prophesied of the coming of Jesus, and those present had become betrayers and murderers! Those are some harsh words! I can well imagine their offense at his words! But amid their anger, God was cheering Stephen on! We know this because Stephen said:
“Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Acts 7:56 NKJV
Jesus was so blessed by Stephen’s attitude! Instead of Stephen looking at the angry crowd, he was looking towards heaven! This is the only place in the Scriptures where we are told that Jesus was standing at the right hand of God! Everywhere else, Jesus is sitting! But I bet it isn’t the only time Jesus stood! I believe many believers since Stephen have caused Jesus to stand! And if He doesn’t show us that He is standing, we can certainly experience the peace that overflows us, that causes us to know we have made His heart happy!
As we go through this life, we should know that we have a target on our backs. The only thing you did to earn this target is that you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. We won’t all die a martyr’s death as Stephen and others have experienced, but we can all stand in the face of persecution, and choose to honor Jesus!
I believe that the reason we have such a lengthy account of what Stephen preached was because Saul was sitting in that audience. I believe Stephen’s message and the presence of God in Stephen made an impact on Saul that changed the course of his life and the church! Don’t let the target distract you, allow it to propel you to be the best witness for Christ you can be. You never know who is watching and how it will affect their lives. Wonderful Jesus!
Acts 6:1-Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
In Acts, the early church began with members being added, but by chapter 6, the numbers were multiplying. Since we understand that multiplication is repeated addition, we can infer that the membership was growing at such a rate, that it was referred to as multiplication rather than addition. But with this multiplication of so many people came opportunities for division, not of the mathematical sort, but of the divisive sort.
The apostles were “doing too much”, as the younger generation like to say. They were the leaders and felt a sincere obligation to take care of the people. But in having such a “hands-on” ministry, things were naturally being neglected. The first problem Luke mentioned was the daily distribution of goods.
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
Acts 6:1 NKJV
As we saw in chapters 4 and 5, the church had begun to collect money to help support those in need, and everything was given to the apostles. At first, this seemed like a good idea, but they just kept multiplying, and it became increasingly difficult for them to make sure everyone was taken care of.
Let’s stop and think about how the enemy had raised his hand against the church thus far. At first, the attacks came from without the church, from religious leaders against the apostles. Now the enemy tries a different attack. If he couldn’t stop the church from without, then he would try from within. Same old devil, same old tactics that are used today.
Not only that, but the problem seemed to be between the needs of two different groups in the church, the Hebrews and the Hellenists. Now according to Keener, the Hellenists were also Jews, but they had been heavily influenced by the Greek culture, probably from the Diaspora. They spoke the language fluently, embraced the traditions, and seemed more like Greeks than Jews. While the Hebrews were also Jews, they were more likely to speak Aramaic or Hebrew and clung to their Jewish background and traditions.
The devil has no new tricks! If race alone won’t divide the church, then he’ll use any means necessary to try and accomplish his goal! Make no mistake about it, the church is going through spiritual warfare and the current attacks are meant to destroy itself from within!
So, the Hellenists took their complaint to the apostles. They said that during the daily distribution, they had realized that the widows of the Hellenistic population were being neglected, however, it seemed that the Hebrew widows were doing just fine! There was no indication that it was intentional, but it was happening. There is a difference between intentional and unintentional neglect. They are both wrong, but intentional neglect is worse!
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Acts 6:2 NKJV
The twelve apostles called a meeting of the disciples who were present. They didn’t ignore the complaint. They didn’t send them back and tell them that they needed to be more spiritual, or that the most important thing was that they were Christians and they had to walk in love! No! They addressed the issue!
I have to admit that this is the thing that bothers me the most about the current church. If you don’t know that I am black, then let me tell you, I am Black and a woman! And it is so frustrating to hear the church at large dismiss women and Black people. I heard one white pastor was asked why he never invited Black ministers to the church, seeing the church was multicultural. His response was that he didn’t know any Black preachers who could preach! Seriously? None? Then he should do something about that because there are many Black preachers capable of preaching God’s word!
I heard another well-known Black preacher state that white ministers will allow you to sing in their choirs, and play in their bands, but not preach in their pulpit or sit on their boards. Are we still having these biases?
And let’s not start with how they treat women in some churches. Women make up the majority of everybody’s congregation. That means that we are the tithers, we are the ones volunteering in children’s ministry, we are the ones singing in the choirs, we are the ones teaching in the Sunday schools, and we are the ones cleaning the buildings, but we need to stay in our place and it’s not the pulpit! Unbelievable! Are we still so narrow-minded in the church? Have we not realized that God uses vessels who are available and willing to do His bidding?
Ok! Back to Acts! The apostles called a meeting, and in the meeting, they shared a plan:
Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Acts 6:2 NKJV
The apostles knew that their primary responsibility in the kingdom was to share the Word of God. However, they also understood that the daily needs of the members of the church were also their responsibility. One they were not capable of personally meeting. It was time for division in another capacity, a division of labor. They found themselves in the same position that Moses found himself in after leading the children of Israel out of Egypt. He was handling everything himself, until his father-in-law, Jethro, told him he was “doing too much”!
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Acts 6:3-4 NKJV
As Moses was instructed to find men who could deal with the lighter concerns of the people, making himself available to handle the weightier matters, so, the apostles gave instructions to the disciples. They were to look amongst themselves and find men they trusted and respected who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom whom the apostles could appoint over the distribution.
Some pastors see “complaints” from the congregants as an attack on their leadership. And sometimes it very well may be an attack against them. But if we are honest with ourselves, it could simply be the Lord’s way of saying “They are doing too much” and need some more help!
Multiplication within a church is a blessing. But division can also be a blessing. We need to learn to listen to one another when a complaint is issued from within. We need to learn to take those things to the Lord to see if what the devil is trying to use to divide us is also a nudging that things need to change to meet our growing pains. Multiplication and division complement one another until they don’t! Division can make us feel threatened in our positions or, it can be used to spurt and support our multiplicity. The choice is ours to make. The devil really isn’t in control! God is! Wonderful Jesus!
Acts 5:20-But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”
The largest jailbreak in history happened in Tehran, Iran, on February 11, 1979. I was in bible college at the time when the news broke in America. I remember everyone talking about Ross Perot who arranged for the rescue to happen. Two of his people had been placed in an Iranian jail on bogus charges. After trying every feasible way to get his people released, he resorted to having them taken from the jail!
A book was written called, “On Wings of Eagles” by Ken Follet. And later a movie was made. Amazingly, Perot also went to Tehran, posing as a news correspondent. He went into the prison and assessed the situation, getting an opportunity to talk with his employees and encourage them. If we would have had social media, it would have gone viral! What made it the largest jailbreak of all times was the fact that when they went into the prison for the two Americans (employees of Perot’s company, Electronic Data Systems led by a retired colonel), 11,000 other prisoners broke free! That’s pretty amazing and it brings us to the prison break in chapter 5!
In verse 17, the high priest and the Sadducees are at it again! They are filled with indignation over the miraculous healing of the lame man in chapter 4, as well as the miracles of healings that are taking place in the city. People are being healed by Peter’s shadow as he passed by. Multitudes of others are freed from demonic attacks and received miracles of healings as the apostles minister to them. And all of this is happening despite the fact that they had rebuked the disciples and told them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus! The high priest and the Sadducees were incensed! Therefore, they arrested the apostles!
But they were not counting on the God factor!
But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.”
Acts 5:20 NKJV
Luke wrote that at night, the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors! In the jailbreak in Tehran, Iran, in 1979, it took months of planning and training to prepare for the jailbreak. But in Acts 5, God just sent an angel to open the prison doors! Just like that! One minute the were locked behind bars that imprisoned them, and the next minute, they were made free! Now that’s supernatural!
The angel then escorted them outside the prison and gave them instructions. He told them to go into the temple and to speak the words of life to the people. Although the jailbreak was at night, the angel didn’t tell them to run and hide. NO! He told them to make a pubic appearance and to proclaim the gospel to the people!
After experiencing such a supernatural jailbreak, the apostles were eager to obey the word of the angel. After all, if the angel had been sent to deliver them once, he could certainly be sent to deliver them again! So early, the next morning, they went into the temple to do just that!
Meanwhile, the people who had them locked up was unaware of what had happended! They sent officers to the prison to get the disciples only to discover that they were not there!
“Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”
Acts 5:23 NKJV
I told you! That’s supernatural! Unlike the jailbreak in Iran, where there was such a ruckus being made, 11,000 others were able to go free, and pandemonium was happening in the city! In this case, only the ones the angel was sent to free received their freedom and no one knew anything had happened but the disciples! The guards were still in place, and the locks hadn’t been removed. But there were no prisoners within when they went back to get them! While they were discussing this new development, someone entered the room and told them that the disciples were not only free, but they were in the temple preaching again!
Again, they go to arrest the disciples, however, they are not as forceful. Luke wrote that they feared being stoned. For surely the disciples had told them of the miraculous release they had experienced the night before. And surely, the people wanted to hear from the disciples even more so, then they had previously. What a mess the leaders have before them! So they asked the disciples:
“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
Acts 5:28 NKJV
The discipes had not obeyed their command to keep silent. Remember, the angel told them to go and preach in the temple! So, of course, they were proclaiming Jesus! How do we know? Because the councilmen said to the disciples that they intended to bring Jesus’ blood on them! They had to have been declaring His Name! So, Peter and the disciples responded:
“We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Acts 5:29-32 NKJV
They had the right attitude after their miraculous escape! Not only did they have gratitude to God for His supernatural provision, but they also responded to the opportunity to give Him some praise and to share what He had done for them! They were more than willing to continue to preach the gospel, understanding that God was a higher Authority in their lives, than the Sanhedrin!
God has promised to deliver His people. In Luke 4, He said:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”Luke 4:18-19 NKJV
Jesus promised to set free those who are held captive. Just as Perot wanted to assure his guys that he was there to free them, Jesus is always saying to us, He came to set us free! Perot spared no expense, but neither did the Father! He sent His only Son, Jesus, to set us free from bondage. That’s more than we can fathom!
We mostly see those who are bound spiritually made free! Thank God for freedom of any kind! It may sound like a small thing to some, but if you have ever been bound by anything, you recognize it for the supernatural power of God that it is!
However, in Acts 5, we see the angel of the Lord physically setting someone free of captivity! This was not the first time, neither was it the last time. Jesus is so committed to His church, His bride, that He will do whatever is necessary that we might free! That’s pretty extraordinary!
As I go through this study, it makes me crave to see God do it again and again! I’m praying for a revival of a move of the Holy Spirit like in the book of Acts! I’m praying to see God do things that only He can do! I’m looking for miracles of all kinds to begin to happen in church! I’m expecting to see Him show up in our churches in unusual ways. More importantly, I’m expecting Him to show up more in my life! Since He was willing to send an angel to break the apostles out of jail, I believe He has to be willing to do great things for me! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus!