When persecution caused the church in Jerusalem to scatter, the gospel was spread to other nations. What was intended to stop the message, instead spurred its growth. God has commanded us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Will it take persecution for us to obey?
King Solomon commissioned these 27 ft tall, bronze pillars for the entrance to the Temple. One he named Jakin (He establishes) the other Boaz (In Him is strength). Has God established your house? Is He your strength?
With both working to pay the mortgage, buying a house in the nicest neighborhood, filling it with expensive furnishings, you still labor in vain without God. A house doesn’t make a home. Love does. God is love. Let Him build your house.
What Israel thought of King Solomon. Will God still give wisdom to national leaders? We should pray for those that are in authority that God would imbue them with His wisdom for the administration of justice.
Where: Temple and house. How: Preaching and teaching. When: Daily. Commitment: Never stopped. Message: Jesus is the Christ. What’s your strategy?
Peter and John were not wealthy and educated like the Jewish leaders, but they had something better. They had been with Jesus. Are others able to notice that you have spent time with Jesus?
Repentance (“metanoia” literally, change of mind) involves seeing your sin from God’s perspective, hating as He does. True repentance leads to godly sorrow. When we repent and turn to God, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us.
When our church decided to make these four devotions the DNA of our small groups, real growth started to happen. I want to be part of a 1st century church that reaches a 21st century community. Are you in a home group yet?
When we say “I will” instead of “His will,” we move into dangerous waters. Pride is the sin that gives birth to many other sins. Satan’s fall began with him saying “I will be like the Most High.” Pride makes us enemies with God. Humble yourselves and draw near to God.
John the Beloved refers to himself in this self-deflecting way. His gospel is an eye witness testimony, containing more detail and dialogue than the other gospels. The word “believe” is prominent, occurring 76 times. John wants us to believe.