by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 14-16
In the midst of their ramblings, Job and his friends hit upon some snippets of truth. They don’t understand God, but their observations of the natural world lead us to some interesting prophetic statements. One of those we encounter today.
For there is hope for a tree, when it is cut down, that it will sprout again. And its shoots will not fail.
Though its roots grow old in the ground, and its stump dies in the dry soil, at the scent of water it will flourish and put forth sprigs like a plant. (14:7-9)
I love this picture, because it’s a picture of the hope we have when our mission or our vision seems to die.
There are times when we are giving our very lives to a call and everything seems to be destroying what we’ve worked for. This call could be our families, our businesses, or our ministries. You may have been through something like this.
Yet there is always hope. The hope is the water – the breath of the Holy Spirit – which can come, bringing resurrection power. As long as there is even the tiniest smidgen of life, water can bring restoration.
In our front yard we have a tree which signifies just that. There is a dead stump out of which a full-grown tree is growing. This is more than just hope. It is a full-blown manifestation of hope produced by water restoring the roots and bringing back the life.
If you have some areas of your life which seem to be dead, don’t give up. God can breath His breath of the Holy Spirit onto those areas and cause resurrection to flourish. He can make all things new. And He can cause those new things to supersede the old.
Acts 9: 22-43
The miraculous transformation of Saul continues to astound the Christians in Jerusalem.
You can see Barnabas’s motive gift as he brings Saul to his friends. He is a people person and a peacemaker. His endorsement of Saul allows the new convert to freely move about Jerusalem and fellowship with his new brothers. Barnabas seems to have a pastor’s heart.
Next we come to Peter on a roll. He heals the paralyzed Aeneas in Lydda, bringing many to the Lord. Then on to Joppa where he raises Dorcas from the dead. Many are believing now.
“And it became known all over Joppa and many believed in the Lord.”(V. 42)
As we go trough this history, I want you to look for any passages which say that these types of miracles will go away in the future. You won’t find any such thing.
Today, there has been such a culture of disbelief for such a long time, that many think these are just things which happened long ago. (And some even go so far as to say they never happened).
God is raising up a different breed, however, today. That different breed of believer demonstrates total belief in their God. They look at His Word and they enter into a pursuit of understanding and faith. They desire to see God at work today just as He was in these early days of the church. This new breed of believer will see what they are looking for.
In fact, all around the world, where people truly believe their God and expect the supernatural, they see blind eyes opened, the dead raised, and miracles of all kinds.
What about you? What about me? Are we going to be true believers, or are we going to settle for a powerless gospel? II Timothy 3:5 speaks of those in the last days who will “hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power.” I don’t want to be like that!
I have seen some miracles, and I want to see more. I want to see God at work, showing His reality and His presence. I know that you do also.
Let’s be some of those who are willing to go for all that God has.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 11-13
Ramblings and speculations continue as Job and his “friends” try to figure out God.
I see so many people like that today, even though we now have a Bible. Our modern culture has invaded every aspect of society – including the church.
Today there are many Christians who don’t read the Bible and spend time with God. As a result, they are confused about His character and His ways. They continually speculate.
It’s not uncommon to hear people say, “I believe God wants…” as they go on to say something totally out in left field. They say that because they haven’t sought to know their Savior. They are just speculating.
Today, we don’t have the excuse Job did. He had no Bible and knew very little about God. We not only have the Bible, but many teachers who know our Father very well and can help us to discover the truths.
I pray that you and I won’t descend to the level of outrageous speculation, but will go to our Father and His word and ask Him for answers. James says, “If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”(James 1:5)
I praise Him for being such a great instructor.
Acts 9:1-21
You know the saying, “I saw the light?” I feel quite sure that the saying comes from Saul’s conversion. He truly “saw the light.”
Can you imagine the shock of Saul and the other travelers as a bright light beams around them – causing Saul to fall to the ground? (I’m not sure what caused him to fall. It could have been the presence of God overpowering him). Can you imagine their wonderment as a voice out of heaven startles them?
Blind and confused, Saul is taken to Damascus where he fasts for three days.
Now can you imagine the shock Ananias feels when he is told to go to Saul and lay hands on him? Ananias knows that Saul is one persecuting the church, and now he is supposed to go to the oppressor?
What a glorious moment when, as he obeys, the scales fall from Saul’s eyes and he begins to testify of his Lord.
God’s Word to Ananias, “He is a chosen instrument of mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.”(V.15)
Everyone is amazed. This is the first time that such a horrific opponent has openly been converted to Christianity. It’s scary, but it’s also thrilling to the others.
In modern times, we have seen quite a few dramatic conversions. C.S Lewis was an atheist before coming to Christ. Josh MacDowell was an agnostic. And we have seen many others. Often the ones who were the most adamantly opposed to Jesus become the most enthusiastic advocates.
That’s why we should never pre-judge people. There is no one who is beyond redemption when they truly encounter Jesus. That mean, ungodly person who works next to you may be on the verge of a great turnaround.
If God calls you to take the word to someone you know is totally lost, are you ready?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 5-10
When I read Job, I realize once again how thankful I am for the Word of God. Just think what our lives would be like if we had to speculate about our Father, His character, and his purposes. That’s the way it was with Job and his friends. The only thing they had to go by was experience, and they just had to guess what life was all about. Of course they knew nothing about Satan.
That’s why the emotional roller coaster goes on and on. The friends jump around from topic to topic, and so does Job. Poor guy.
Eliphaz is trying to give Job advice. He says that “man is born for trouble.” But then he goes on to say that if it were him, he “would seek God.” And he winds up saying that “God is disciplining Job, and he should not despise it.”(All in Chapter 5)
Job’s answers come first with deep anguish. “Would that God were willing to crush me.”(6:9) But then with a reminder that he has not spoken ill of the Lord.
As Job continues, he rebukes his friends for not caring more. “For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend.”(6:14) Then he gets back on the subject of what God is doing, questioning the continual trials.
Bildad then takes his stand, saying that Job has to be in sin to be going through all of his trials. And Job counters with his credentials of righteousness.
More speculation.
I am so thankful that He has made Himself known to us. Aren’t you? We are so fortunate to live in our day – when His Spirit is actually living inside of us – and we have His Word to guide us. We are blessed!
Acts 8
We get a glimpse into the life of Saul before he knew Jesus. He was still a zealous man, but for the wrong cause. He was zealous for the cause of the Jewish leaders and for the persecution of the Christians. He had never met Jesus, but believed what the leaders told him and he thought he was on God’s side.
When the devil thinks he is bringing destruction to God’s kingdom, our Father always turns it around on him. The persecution of the church caused the people to scatter to other places. they were running to safety, but they were also scattering the word.
So Philip landed in Samaria – and those natives loved it. He was preaching and healing. Many paralyzed were getting healed.
When Peter and John joined the crowd, they began praying for the people to receive the Holy Spirit. The Word doesn’t say exactly what the demonstrations were, but we can be sure that the baptism was obvious, because Simon the magician wanted to buy the power to give the Holy Spirit. Needless to say, he was rebuked.
We wind up the chapter with Philip following the direction of an angel to go to Gaza and minister to an Ethiopian eunuch. So he tells the Ethiopian of Jesus and even baptizes this man, before being translated to Azotus. (He disappears and “finds himself” in Azotus).
Can you imagine the excitement these early Christians felt? So many supernatural activities. Their lives truly represented the kingdom of God.
I’m believing for more of the same in our generation. In countries where there is less sophistication and less busyness, more signs and wonders are reported than in our western world.
I want to see all that our Father has for us.
Job 14-16
