The Great Prison Salvation

  
Friday, July 10, 2015
The Great Prison Salvation
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Each time I read Acts 16:23-34, I always focused on Paul and Silas praying and singing praise for all the prison to hear, (Acts 16:25,) their faith in God even when they are being persecuted. Today as I read these verses, God laid a different understanding on my heart. When the prison doors swung open and Paul and Silas chains were loosen, they were given an opportunity to escape, (Acts 16:26,) but chose not to. God gave them a choice, here is your chance to flee and save yourself, or you can stay knowing I am here with you, and help bring others to salvation. When that guard woke up and seen the prison doors were open, he was scared and knew he would be killed for their escape. His only choice to avoid being torture for this mishap was to kill himself, as he rose the sword, Paul cried out we are here, (Acts 16:27-28.) The guard who had witness their worshipping earlier was so thankful and ran straight to them, falling down at their feet, wanting to know how he could be saved, (Acts 16:29-30.) Their answer for the guard was simple, they told him if he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, that he would be saved (Acts 16:31.) Because Paul and Silas did not take the easy way out by quickly escaping, they were able to lead not just the jailer but his entire house to the Lord, (Acts 16:32-34.) God will always provide a way for us to escape, but are we willing to take the risk of not fleeing to quick in order to win souls for Christ? 
Thank You Lord for laying this message on my heart. All to often we find ourselves in a situation we feel uncomfortable in. Then at the moment a door is available we flee. Not once looking around to see who needs to hear the gospel. Lord, You have placed each of us in unfamiliar places, because someone needs to witness our faith in You. Father I pray my reactions will point to Christ, in Jesus name I pray, Amen 

Pride Only causes a Great Fall!

 

 Tuesday, April 14,2015

Pride Only causes a Great Fall

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

This verse brings the book of 1 Samuel to my mind. How David was constantly on the run from bitter King Saul who was out to kill him. Many times David had Saul within his grip to slay him, but he would always remember that vengeances was God’s, (1Samuel 26:9-10.) Paul reminds us of this in the New Testament, “Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” David was forced out of his home and from his wife Michal by his enemy because of jealousy, and remained in hiding till the day King Saul took his own life from being wounded in a battle, (1Samuel 31:4.) Along with the bitter seed of jealousy is pride, and pride always takes our eyes off of God and places them onto ourselves and our reputation, (1Samuel 18:7-8.) David held his ground by respecting the man God placed on the throne, that was his worse enemy and never allowed others to kill him. But Saul fell due to his own haughty spirit and bitter pride causing his own destruction. We can learn a lot from the book of 1Samuel; that God is always in control, and pride is a nasty seed that will only produce bad fruits. 

Most gracious Heavenly Father I pray that You will search my heart out, and if I have any seeds of pride or jealously toward another that You will make it known to me. I pray to be cleansed, renewed and restored by You daily. Lord I pray to see my heart in the reflection of Your Word today; I pray that my life will produce good fruits for Your glory, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.