Separated from my mother's womb

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 21; Galatians 1; Ezekiel 28; Psalm 77

Galatians 1:15-16 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood.

God had plans for Paul before he was born. Even during his time of religious persecution, God was working to bring Paul to a place of repentance. He was far away from God’s perfect plan for his life, but God’s grace is amazing and when he was headed to Damascus, Jesus blinded Paul and revealed himself to him. This was the grace of God to Paul and he was called to follow Jesus on that road. Paul was like others that God has a plan for from before their birth.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

John the Baptist was also separated early by God for his mission of preparing the way for the Messiah. In God’s amazing plan, he actually has a plan for every man. However, the only way we will discover that plan is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. When we are saved, the Bible tells us:

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Proving that good, acceptable and perfect will of God for you comes when you present your body a living sacrifice. When you give yourself to God and say, “I completely trust you and believe that your way is the right way for me,” you will walk in the path that God has for you.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

God has good works for us to do. We must surrender to him and discover his plan for our lives in order to walk in them. Isn’t it wonderful to know that God knew you before you were born and our Loving Heavenly Father has a plan for your life? Walk with him in it!

In Christ,

Rody

The Trinity

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 20; 2 Corinthians 13; Ezekiel 27; Psalms 75 & 76

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

The blessing that the apostle Paul gives to the Corinthian believers is one of the reasons that we believe that God is a Triune God. We do not worship three gods – that is pantheism. We worship one God who exists in three persons and has revealed himself to us in his Word as such. Here we see the blessing coming from our one God with three distinct personages.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ – when God revealed himself to Moses he said:

Exodus 3:13-14 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Jesus said:

John 8:58-59 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

Jesus used the name of God when he said, “I Am.” The Jews did not miss this and picked up stones to kill him for blasphemy. May the GRACE of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

The love of God the Father - Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD.

1 John 4:8b God is love.

May the love of God be with you.

The communion of the Holy Ghost – The Holy Ghost is not a ‘force’, he is a person and he is God!

Acts 5:1-4 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

When Peter confronted Ananias, he first said he had lied to the Holy Ghost and then he said that he had lied to God. We can see that the Holy Ghost is God.

May the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you!

In Christ,

Rody

The signs of an apostle

Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 19; 2 Corinthians 12; Ezekiel 26; Psalm 74

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

The apostle Paul had to defend his apostleship to the Corinthian believers because there were those who doubted his authenticity. Even though Paul was used by God to start the church, there was division and strife among the people there. He had to remind them that God worked the signs of an apostle among them. Paul had done signs, wonders and mighty deeds in Corinth. There were given to the apostles to confirm the word they were preaching. Before the New Testament was complete, the apostles were speaking the Word of God. When an apostle taught, he was speaking scripture. However, God’s plan was that the apostles’ ministry would culminate with churches planted and with a complete New Testament. When John, the last of the apostles finished the Revelation, the churches no longer had the apostles, but they did have the New Testament.

The signs were there to authenticate the messenger. Just as God had given Moses some signs to prove that he was speaking on behalf of God, he gave sign gifts to the apostles.

Mark 16:17-20 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Notice that the Lord confirmed the word with signs following. The most important part of Paul’s ministry was not the signs but the Word he preached. Too many people get caught up looking for a sign and don’t focus on the Word of God. Jesus also warns that signs can be counterfeited:

Matthew 7:22-23 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The apostle Paul was determined to get the Word of God to the Corinthians. His most important focus was this:

1 Corinthians 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

The Word of God is of utmost importance – let’s believe it and proclaim it!

In Christ,

Rody