Philip and the Ethiopian Acts 8:34-39

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.  When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

 

What hinders your connection with Father God?  In the last post we discussed some reasons we can become disconnected from God - being too busy to study the Word, pray, and worship God.  Sometimes we just we don't know how or what to do.

 

According to Acts 8, Philip is lead by the Holy Spirit to connect with the eunuch as he was reading in the book of Isaiah about Jesus’ sacrifice. Philip asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man said how can I understand unless someone explains it to me. So the man invited Philip to come in, sit with him and explain the scripture. Phillip connected this man to God.

 

In the book, Reconnect, Joan shares how to reconnect to God’s heart so you can begin to grow in Him. Why are we disconnected?  Is it an issue with our hearts? Joan answers these questions as she looks at the conditions of our hearts on many levels. The Holy Spirit assesses our hearts and unlocks and exposes any hidden traps of the enemy.  In this book, you will learn the great benefits of reconnecting your heart to God's heart. So come let us reason together and reconnect back to the one who truly loves us, God, our Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

You can purchase Reconnect by visiting joanmurrayministries.org.

Thought Of The Day

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

God Where Are You?

Psalm 13:1-6 (NIV)

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

¹ How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
² How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

³ Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
⁴ and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

Are you feeling disconnected From God?  Does God seem distant?  What to do.

God is omnipresent, which means He is everywhere at all times.

That means He is in your bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, car, workplace, and your prayer closet.   He is ever present in your joy and your sorrow.

When you pray what does it sound like?  Is it more about you and your wants?

God wants more than that from you and for you.

 God wants your praise and thanksgiving in good and bad times. Did you know that God loves you and He is always with you?

Are you too busy to spend time with God? Do you know that’s where your power to defeat the enemy comes from?

How would your life change if you believed that God is everywhere at the same time so you are never alone and that He loves you?

He is always available to you through the WORD - PRAYER - PRAISE - WORSHIP.

Would you like to open up dialog with God?

Start with a set time in His presence.  Don’t ask for anything, simply thank Him, then be silent and listen to Him.

You will be amazed by His overwhelming presence and peace.

In the next few weeks I would like to share with you from an excellent book, Reconnect, by the author of this blog, Joan Murray.  This book will help you to reconnect to the One who loves you so much He provided away to undo what Satan did in the Garden of Eden.

Get connected today!

Why The Ten Commandments?

Deuteronomy 5:2 – 3 – The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day.

God gave the Ten Commandments as a covenant to His people and for various other reasons.

The purpose of the law was to reveal the God of the law.

When you focus on the lawgiver you find delight in obeying his commands.

God revealed his greatness and His glory at Mt. Sinai when the law was given.

He wanted to remind us He is a Holy God.

God’s law gives us a gauge by which we should live and conduct our lives.

God wanted to write his words/law on the heart of every believer.

God’s law was meant to give us long lives full of purpose, greatness and humility.


Do you know that the law is given because of God’s love for you?

Listen, Hear and Obey

Deuteronomy 5: 1 – And Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep, and do them.

Hear O Christians – this call is still going forth for believers to listen, hear and obey.

The Israelites were to listen with a hearing that leads to obedience.
They were to listen attentively, to understand, heed and obey.
They were to learn the meaning of God’s laws and were to obey them. They were to have no other gods before Him.

Ten Commandments:
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth.
3. Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God Am a jealous God.
4. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
5. Keep the Sabbath day - six day thou shalt labor, and do all thy work.
6. Honor thy father and mother.
7. Thou shalt not kill.
8. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
9. Thou shalt not steal
10. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

The first four commandments deal with our relationship to God.

The 5th - moves us from focusing on our relationship to God to focusing on our relationship with others (Mark 12:28-34).

The 6th – Reminds us that God is the giver of life and only He has the right to take it.

The 7th – Calls for sexual purity and the honoring of marriage as God’s appointed way.

The 8th – God is concerned with the way we treat others.

The 9th – God forbids all form of lying, whether on the witness stand in court or with friends and neighbors.

How are you doing with these commandments?

Are The Ten Commandments For Today

Deuteronomy 4:1 – Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statues and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you.

How many of us could recite the Ten Commandments that God gave us to live by?

Are we living each day based on these commandments?

Moses’ introduced these commandments in his second sermon to the Israelites before they began their conquest of the Promised Land.

They were camped east of the Jordan River.

Before the people entered into battle, they needed to know what they were fighting for.

They were in a battle for more than their homeland; they were fighting to fulfill their faith covenant with God.

In his sermon, Moses recited the 10 commandments that were written by the finger of God because of His love for His people.

The Israelites and us must understand that just knowing and teaching the 10 commandments is not enough. As believers, we must all live by them as we develop a relationship with God and others.

The question is - how many of us know the Ten Commandments? Keep reading the next blogs for the answer.

Are the Ten Commandments for today?

Supporting One Another

2 Timothy 4:16 – At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

Paul concludes His writing to Timothy by sharing some personal remarks about supporting one another.
· He needed Timothy to come see about him because Demas, his keeper, deserted him because of his love of the world.
· Luke was with him but he wanted to see Mark who was helpful to him in ministry.
· He warns Timothy to be on guard against Alexander who harmed him.
· He reminded Timothy that God will always repay the evil that is done to those who serve Him.
· Paul’s helpers had deserted him when he stood before his accusers but God faithfully stood by him.
· The Lord stood by Him and strengthened him and the message was fully given to Gentiles.
· He told Timothy that God would rescue him from every evil and take him safely to Heaven.
· He was exhorting Timothy to stand firm no matter the difficulties he faced.

Paul knew his destination and he was prepared to meet his Lord so he overcame all difficulties to obtain a reward.


Do you have a good support base?

The Believer’s Reward

2 Timothy 4:8 – Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Paul shares with us the reward that believers will receive when we appear before the Lord:
There is a crown of righteousness that the Lord Himself will give as a reward to Paul and us on Judgment Day.
We will be rewarded for staying the course.
We will be rewarded for keeping the faith.
We will be rewarded for remaining steadfast and immovable.

The righteous crown we receive will be:
A band that encircles the head designating honor to a king or कुईं.
There are two types of crowns:
1. Stephanos – worn by athletes.
2. Diadema – worn by a king. I believe Paul is saying that we will wear the crown for kings and queens.
This will not be just any crown but a “Righteous Crown.” This crown speaks of godliness, of being upright and moral, having right standing with God, and speaks of virtue.
Paul said God will give him the crown as a reward for his labor, faith, faithfulness and finishing the race given to him.
He also said the crown will belong to those of us that are longing for the Lord’s return.
There is a reward for your faith, for pouring out your life for God, and for running your race to its completion. A crown is waiting with your name on it.

Are you preparing so that you will be crowned?

Finishing Strong

2 Timothy 4:7 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

In his benediction Paul tells us how to finish strong in the Christian race. He said I have fought the good fight:
It was a struggle.
It was combat.
It was fierce and agonizing.
But it was a good fight because it was an assignment from God and was all about the salvation of mankind through His Son.

I have finished the race:
He had not been sluggish or hesitant to embrace his destiny.
He went to the starting line, he began the race and he did not stop until he reached the finish line.
In between the starting line and the finish line – he had been beaten, shipwrecked, left for dead, in prison, hungry, etc. but finished he did.
Adversity did not keep him from finishing. It propelled him further.
He understood that the race was fixed and that he had already won – he simply had to get to the finish line so he could begin to live his true and everlasting life in heaven.

In the midst of all he had endured, Paul kept the faith. He protected what God gave him.
He never doubted that God was with him.
He grabbed a hold of God through Jesus’ sacrifice and he held on tightly to the very end.
His faith went through some trials, some severe टेस्टिंग and some difficult seasons but he came to know God intimately.
Through the difficulties and testing, he met the real Savior.
Paul was satisfied with the outcome.


Are your running your race to finish strong?

Running The Christian Race

2 Timothy 4:6-7 - For I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith.

The Apostle Paul gave us a great example of running the race in our Christian walk. He shows us how to be victorious so we can attain the price.

Paul said his life had been poured out like a drink offering

He was empty – he had given all that he had.

There was nothing left in him to give. He had poured it all into the lives of unsaved people.

He had given everything God gave him back into the service to Christ.

Because he had accomplished all God called him to do, He was ready to face death and depart this life.

He was not afraid to die. He was ready to be offered up.

He was an offering.

Hi life was a sacrifice.

He was a gift that had been given to draw mankind to the one and only Savior and he had been victorious each step of the way.

How is your Christian race unfolding?

The Believer’s Charge

2 Timothy 4:5 – But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Do the work of an evangelist.
Be the person who announces good news.
Proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.
An evangelist is not confined to one spot but moves about sharing the love of Christ to those who have not heard the message.
They inspire people to come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
They bring people face to face with the risen Christ.
They discharge all the duties of the ministry.
Perform those duties that God has assigned specifically to you.
Work to spread the Gospel and the Love of Jesus Christ.
Use your gift to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven.

Are you working for God and sharing the message of the kingdom to those who don’t know Him?

Enduring Faith

2 Timothy 4:3 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.

Paul continues his charge to all believers:
Charge #6 – Paul encourages us to keep our heads in all situations
· Be steady
· Be sure
· Be steadfast
· He reminds us that our heads govern the movement and direction of our whole body - so it manages and directs the course of our lives
· Our heads will help us to have leadership and control over every situation we face

Charge #7 – Endure Hardship
· Paul reminds us that as we serve God we will endure difficulties
· Don’t quit when difficulties come
· Have faith and trust that the outcome is in God’s hands
· You will encounter some adverse circumstances
· They may be calamities like Paul faced
· Some of you may even suffer afflictions but Jesus said “Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”

Paul makes it abundantly clear that hardships would come and when it does, he gave us the key for success – steadfastness in Christ.

In the midst of the difficulties that are sent to try your faith - hold on to God, He will keep you steady in the storm.



What difficulty are you enduring?

The Charge to Believers

2 Timothy 4:2 – Preach the Word of God; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

Before Paul was executed, he charged believers in the Presence of God and Christ Jesus about how to conduct ourselves.

Charge #1 – Preach the Word

Charge #2 –Be prepared in and out of season

Charge #3 – Correction –discipline people, as it is necessary

Charge #4 – Rebuke – to reprimand

Charge #5 – Encourage – Using great patience and careful instructions

Paul gave these charges to believers saying that a time is coming when men and women will refuse sound doctrine:

To satisfy their own desires, believers will gather teachers around them to say what their itching ears want to hear

Men and women will turn their ears away from the truth of the Word o f God

They will embrace myths: traditions, falsehood, fantasies but not the soundness of the Word of God

Paul challenges us to watch ourselves so that we will not be deceived and then drawn away from our love affair with God.



How are you doing with these charges in your Christian walk?

Living a Steadfast Christian Life

2 Timothy 4:1-2 – I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.

The Apostle Paul is a perfect example of a person who lived a steadfast Christian life after he was converted on the Damascus road.

He concludes his writing of 2nd Timothy in a letter to Timothy, his bosom friend and trusted co-worker and shared some strong words of admonition and charge to Timothy.

Paul was re-arrested and brought back to Rome as a criminal and not because he was in violation of Jewish laws.

During this time Nero was crucifying Christians - He was arresting them and putting them to death.

It was while Paul was in the Roman prison he wrote this admonition to Believers to be steadfast and sure in their faith.

In this dark moment of his life, Paul writes to Timothy about being faithful to God and how to trust God during trials and difficulties.

Paul’s friend had forsaken him, leaving him to suffer alone. But there was no hint of regret in Paul’s writing and no doubt that the Church of Jesus Christ would be triumphant irregardless of who forsake their call.

As his execution approached, Paul reviewed his life and he knew that he had fought a good fight and kept the faith - he had been victorious, - he had won and he would receive a glorious welcome in Heaven for all he had done and endured for the sake of Christ.

Paul demonstrated what living steadfast looks like for the believer.


Are you living a steadfast life of faith and commitment to God?

The Power Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Matthew 15:30 – And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them.

Your spirit is like electricity that makes the power of God available at all times to those who need a touch from Him.

When you lay hands on people, you connect the power of God to them, and God’s power will flow through you to meet their needs.

Jesus gave us many examples of how to use our mouth, voice, and hands to bring healing to His people.

When you study the life of Jesus you will discover that He never prayed for the sick or the demon possessed but He healed and delivered many.

How did Jesus perform so many miracles:

1. He spoke a command to the body - Stretch out your hand! “Woman you are set free from your infirmity.”

2. He laid hands on the sick and they were healed.

3. He spoke to demons and commanded them to come out of the person.

4. He loved people and had great compassion for them.

5. He took time to meet them at the point of their greatest need.

6. God’s people can also speak and lay hands on the sick to bring healing, and we can command the demons to go using the powerful name of Jesus!”


Do you desire to be a source of power for the Holy Spirit to use?

You And The Holy Spirit!

Luke 24:49 – And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Jesus gave every believer four things in the Great Commission and He knew that with the power of the Holy Spirit we could accomplish them.

He gave us:

1. His authority: Mathew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, [you] go!”

2. His name: Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues…they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well!” We have a Name that is above every name that’s named! (Phil. 2:9)

3. His power: Jesus said in Luke 24:49, “Stay I the city [Jerusalem] until you have been clothed with [dunamis, i.e. miracle-working] power from on high.”

4. His work to do: Jesus said in John 20:21, “As my Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And in John 9:4 Jesus said, “We must do the work of him who sent me.” Then in John 14:12 He said, “Do what I have been doing [and you] will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God. We can help to usher in the soon return of our King.

Share His love with those you meet so they too can experience all that He gave in exchange for their life.


Are you following the lead of the Holy Spirit?

Faith And Miracles

John 14:12 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

The gift of faith and the gift of the working of miracles often work hand in hand. Examples of this - Elijah dividing the waters of the Jordan after Elijah’s mantel came upon him; Jesus turning the water into wine; and when God’s people were delivered by walking on dry ground in the midst of the sea, etc.

All these miracles happened because the gift of faith was in operation to perform them. However, it was the gift of the working of miracles that caused the actual miracles.

Creative miracles take place when God’s omnipotence is manifested through a person’s words and deeds.

When people see these miracles there is no doubt in their minds that it is God doing it.

Creative miracles take place when we simply believe God and expect to see His miracle working power.

God desires to use us to perform signs, wonders, and miracles to draw unbelievers to Him.

Jesus promised that we would do greater works because He was going to the Father.



Are you seeing these greater works that Jesus spoke about? Why or why not?

The Gift of the Working of Miracles

1 Corinthians 12:10a – To another the working of miracles…..

The gift of the working of miracles is not natural miracles, but supernatural miracles where God intervenes in a natural event in the ordinary course of nature. (Moses splitting the Red Sea)

The gift of the working of miracles is something that is supernatural and happens on a natural plane.

The gift of the working of miracles is an intervention in the force of nature.

The working of miracles includes miraculous provisions like the widow women with the cruse of oil; the feeding of the 5,000 with the multiplication of the fish and the loaves.

Sometimes the gift of the working miracles carries out divine judgment such as the blindness in Sodom and Gomorrah because of sin.

It is sometimes used to deliver someone in an unavoidable situation of danger. (Jesus stilled the storm.)

The working of miracles displays God’s power and magnificence.

In the Greek, the gift of the working of the miracles means, “the working of powers, the working of impelling, staggering wonders or astonishments; or the out workings of explosions of Almightiness!”


Do you desire the gift of the working of miracles?

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are filled with power.

The Holy Spirit gives you boldness to walk in the authority that Jesus gave you.

The Holy Spirit enables you to be a conqueror in life.

The Holy Spirit comforts, leads, guides, and directs your steps.

The Holy Spirit gives wisdom to your heart and helps you to make right decisions.

Faith in the Holy Spirit enables you to minister the baptism in Him to others so they too can receive power.

There is a demonstration of power that is manifested as a result of the Holy Spirit living in a believer’s heart.

When we operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, miracles happen!


Do you have an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit?

The Gift of Faith

Romans 12:3 – For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he out to think; but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The gift of faith is not faith; it is a special endowment of faith.

The gift of faith is special faith you receive after the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

When the gift of faith is in operation you cannot doubt!

Special faith is given to us so we have the power and ability to absolutely believe God.

This faith allows us to believe God in such a way that He honors our word as His own, and will miraculously bring to pass the things for which we believe.

Each of us has been given a measure of faith.

We have a measure – an allotment, a quantity, an amount of faith to believe God for what may seem impossible.

Mark 10:27 says – “And Jesus looking upon them saith, with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Whatever you can have faith for, is absolutely possible with God.


What are you believing for that seems impossible?