Sun, Mar 31st - 2:28PM

Brothers and sisters let us return to Samaria, where through the preaching of Philip the apostle the whole town has believed on Jesus and has been publicly water baptized to show their identification and faith in His name.  The Holy Spirit teaches us many things, how the apostolic ministry differed from the disciples on many levels, one of which the apostles could in certain situations  lay hands on a believer and the Holy Spirit would come to indwell them. The Holy Spirit clearly demonstrates the supremacy of His baptism over water baptism and in many other scriptures as well. We cannot fail to note the blazing goodness, love and mercy of God. God did not deny the  sorcerer water baptism along with the whole town. Philip the apostle did not keep the sorcerer from continuing with him.

Now the other apostles arrive in town, Peter and John: 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John.  15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. Acts  8:14-17 (KJV).

The Bible does not leave us in the dark about what the thoughts, intents and purposes of the sorcerer were when he beheld this event:  ¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.  Acts 8:18-19 (KJV0.

Please note saints (G40 hagios) the apostolic response was not to start a group for those addicted to sorcery, or a group for those suffering from “the brokenness of life". Neither was there an “Oh shucks, we are all sinners anyway, let’s  just forgive and move on”.

Here is the apostolic response: 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. 21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Acts 8: 20-21 (KJV).

Oh man!! The sorcerer got busted big time, God had found him out. God had seen the sorcerer’s thoughts and thoroughly discerned his heart. Yeah, brothers and sisters, that old sorcerer thought he had hit the jackpot of all times. He thought with apostolic power men would line up to pay for what he could give them. He could be greater than before, he could be number one again. He thought he could regain all that he had lost- and more. The truth is that by his desire to pimp the Holy Spirit to get money fame and power, he had barred himself from the kingdom of God, forever. All religious pimps will fare no better than Simon the sorcerer.

Love

Fri, Mar 29th - 9:30PM

Phillip was Simon the sorcerer’s worst nightmare. Until Phillip showed up, Simon had been on the top of the food chain. He was the big man on campus. When he said jump the whole town asked in fear “how high”. No doubt they all feared him, because he had bewitched them to see him as “the great power of God". Now it had all slipped away. What in the world is a sorcerer to do?

For Simon the sorcerer this was a bitter pill to swallow. Perhaps he thought this might not be the end, maybe something could be done to get back on top again. He had lived off the town for a long time, life had been good. But now his power-gone. His control and dominion over a whole town-gone. Easy money-gone. All gone.

¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Acts 8: 12-13 (KJV).

The sorcerer had loved the look of fear and awe in the eyes of the townsmen when he used to  pass by. But now they looked at him with mocking eyes. What? Was that the sound of laughter and snickers of derision as he now passed them by? His life he never thought would ever be different, wiped completely away by the real power of God. When will men learn, God will not share His glory with anyone, neither will He give His praise to another. Give God alone the the totality of the glory, honor, and praise which He alone is is worthy of. Say it with me brethren: GIVE GOD ALONE THE GLORY FOR HE ALONE IS WORTHY.

Sun, Mar 24th - 2:45AM

²⁰ And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. ²¹ For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, ²² Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: ²³ All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. 

Mark 7:20-23 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters Lord Jesus tells us that defilement does not come out of having a bad hair day, or trouble at the office. Lord Jesus tells us that without exception defilement comes out of a person’s own heart.

Let us go now to Samaria where we see in Acts 8:3-8 that the church was scattered after the severe persecution by Saul. We find Phillip having gone to this city preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, casting out devils and working miracles. The people believed the Gospel message hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

⁹ But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: ¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. ¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

Acts 8:9-11 (KJV)

Wow! What a contrast between these two men. Phillip by the power of God used miracles in conjunction with preaching the Gospel to promote Jesus Christ and save souls. Simon the sorcerer used miracles derived from the devil to promote himself above all, to bewitch and enslave men to himself.

Anyone who bypasses God to get what they want out of life is a sorcerer.

Love

Serola

Thu, Mar 21st - 2:06PM

A lady I know came to me very irate, because people who came to her teachings refused to believe what she taught and all rejected her. She said she taught that after person was saved the Lord would cast them out if they did not keep His commandments. She said this was based on:  19 But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; 20 Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

2 Chron 7:19-20 (KJV)

Brothers and sisters,I asked if she had ever read the whole Bible or even a part of it such as the New Testament. She said she had no time to read the whole Bible, and was familiar with some of it from teachings at her Bible classes. At any rate she said she was too busy teaching the Bible, going to Bible classes, and volunteering with no time to read the whole Bible, even though I mentioned she could set some time daily to begin to read it.

In her ignorance she was teaching the Old Covenant message. She was even ignorant of why her message was rejected by all who understood that Christians are under Grace, not law. Most striking is her desire to teach the Bible she had never read and apparently has no intention of reading.

She had heard the Gospel preached many years ago, and believed that through faith in Jesus Christ she was saved, which was most important, but after Salvation did not want to read the Bible to understand God’s commandments of how to serve and live out of love for him.

Most Christians do take time to read the Bible through and come to understand the difference between the Old covenant and the supremacy of the New Covenant. There are still those who try to preach the Old Covenant in place of the New, causing themselves  to stumble and be unstable.

Love

Serola

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Tue, Mar 12th - 12:54PM

Brothers and sisters we most certainly know from the story of Judas Iscariot neither man nor devil have any power to derail the plans of God. We come to gain the full understanding of what the scriptures tells us concerning the impervious virulent relentlessness of evil. Even so we still see that God is merciful in giving everyone the opportunity to be saved and with holds His message from no one. Any notions that God honors man’s “free will” that opposes His own must be abandoned here as we see God honors His will alone.

None who choose of their own self-will to fall away can deny that God told them the Gospel over and over again. Yet they refused to believe it.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Heb 6:7-8 (KJV)

We must note that the devil can easily use those who are committed to the kingdom of darkness, whether they are aware of it or not. No study can be exhaustive, and I know the Holy Spirit can teach you many more things than I can through this brief study. For me the majesty, glory, splendor and great love of Jesus Christ blazes forth into my heart by His perfect sacrifice. I pray that God will so settle you that you will never compromise the word of God for anything or anyone. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save no one and nothing else.

John the Baptist will have the last word here in his testimony:

16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Luke 3:16-17 (KJV)

Love

serola

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Mon, Mar 11th - 11:42AM

Judas Iscariot came against Jesus with a great company of armed men, sent by the religious hierarchy. Jesus is no shrinking violet; he boldly tells them who He is. Jesus boldly tells them to let his disciples go. Jesus boldly drinks the cup of grief and affliction to the full from God, fearless of  death from which He will rise to accomplish complete eternal victory for all that believe on His Name.

Brethren, we may not like to, it may be disagreeable to some of us, cause some of us to shudder in revulsion, but we must give the whole Gospel story, thus we dare not ignore the horror of Judas Iscariot, betrayer of Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus does not tell us that Judas Iscariot was a backsliding Christian; a carnal Christian, or that he was saved even though he walked away. Lord Jesus speaks absolutely that Judas Iscariot was a devil. Judas Iscariot was the son of perdition and eternally lost.

 By the time the disciples with others waited in the upper room the apostle Peter states that Judas Iscariot had hanged his self and died. Before Judas Iscariot died, he felt very sorry-to himself, and went back- to his guilty co-conspirators, the chief priests etc. and returned the money. It was too little and too late, the die had been cast, and Judas Iscariot had sealed his own eternal doom. Judas Iscariot never received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He by his own evil will completely lost his place in the ministry of Jesus Christ. God appointed another disciple to take the place of Judas Iscariot.

²³ And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, ²⁵ That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. ²⁶ And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:22-26 (KJV)

The story of Judas Iscariot ought to warn everybody that those who abuse the sovereign will of God to indulge their own “free will” to reject Jesus Christ will be neither honored nor respected. God’s will alone is sovereign; the will of man is less than nothing with God.

The Bible makes it clear that people do not suddenly fall away. Like the secret unseen festering corruption building up slowly beneath the flesh, to appear as a boil on the surface of the skin; so are those whose festering secret evil and corrupt hearts will surely appear outwardly to all in word and deed.

There are those throughout the Bible and yes, even today falsely claiming to be saved, who willfully reject the Bible and work against the kingdom of God. They shall neither enter God’s kingdom, nor have any inheritance in it. They will go to the hell the same place as Judas Iscariot. Despite all the opposition of the religious hierarchy; the devil, the devils inside man Judas Iscariot, absolutely nothing could prevent or stop Lord Jesus Christ from fullfilling God's plan. DON’T MESS WITH GOD!

Love

serola

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Tue, Mar 5th - 10:22AM

Some might think since the Bible notes Judas Iscariot was destined to betray Lord Jesus, why would God then condemn him? The omniscience of God is not that he doomed Judas Iscariot, but that despite knowing that Judas Iscariot would not repent, he still was shown mercy by being allowed to hear the gospel message, even though he would reject it. No person who ends up in the lake of fire will be innocent. Judas Iscariot doomed himself because of his impenitent heart.

Judas Iscariot is the horror saga of the ages. Yet, dear friends of Jesus, against this backdrop we stand in awe at the mercy and kindness of God. We see without question that God gave Judas Iscariot chance after chance to escape his doom. Here we see the awesome holiness and utter fairness of the heart of God in this saying:

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

When all the apostles eventually found out that Judas Iscariot would be the betrayer, remarkably, we find they made not one railing diatribe against him, nor did they seek to harm him in any way.

Some falsely preach that falling away means that a person who was once saved, turns away forever from God. However the truth is plainly seen in Judas Iscariot, who fell not after being saved, but who fell because having heard the Gospel message from the Messiah rejected both the Messiah and His message, thus refusing to be saved. Dear friends of Lord Jesus Christ no one will arrive in hell being innocent.

Love                

serola

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