26 august 2013

Insights from Acts 12 (II)

Part II: The Church Persecuted

A. Great troubles happen to the church usually when great things are happening to it.

- When the church was born, many great things happened to it: (a) the baptism in the Holy Spirit of the believers (Acts 2:1-11, 9: 17-18, 10:44), (b) the sudden and continuous growth of the church (Acts 2:41-47, 11:19-21), (c) miracles and healing accompanying the evangelism by the apostles (Acts 3:1-10, 9:32-40).

- Whenever these things are happening, great troubles arise: (a) authorities arresting the believers (Acts 5:17-18, 12:1, 3), (b) church leaders being put to death (Acts 7:58-60, 12:2), (c) influential people breathing out threats against the disciples (Acts 8:3, 9:1-2, 12:1).

- As Pastor Tom Mullins of Christ Church, Florida said, "The church is not a ship [a vessel meant for comfort]. It is a battle ship [a vessel meant for trouble]."

B. The time of trouble is not a time for self-pitying but a time for earnest prayers.

- The church didn't 'wimped out' when they faced persecutions. Instead, they drew closer to God, earnestly praying (Acts 12:5).

- Fires are meant to burn away the dirt and purify the gold. Trials, tribulations, and persecutions are meant for us to draw closer to God and be partakers of the sufferings of Christ, which is one of the greatest privilege of being a disciple

- The more the situation gets worse, the more a genuine believer depends on the grace of God. The more he depends on the grace of God, the more he finds strength (2 Corinthians 12:9).

C. God Himself is fighting for his children (Acts 12:13).

- What kind of a father is he who forsakes his child in the midst of a trouble?

- Jesus promised that through the Holy Spirit, He will always be with us even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20b). We are never forsaken (Hebrews 13:5b).

- God said in His word that He cares for every tear that every child of Him sheds (Psalm 56:8). He sympathizes with us in our heartaches so that one day, He could share with us His victory and joy.

- God will surely and eventually finish the battle victoriously (Revelation 20:7-9). All we need to do is just wait upon Him steadfastly (Psalm 37:9).

- Shim'onai

(8/7/13)



other prose: A Sunday Night Note: A Warning Against Worldliness and Exhortation for Godliness, The Folly of Seeking Satisfaction in Sin, Why Would a Loving God Condemn People to Hell?, A Friday Night Prayer, How Do I Know That I Am Saved, Four Things About Jesus A Story of Miracles Reminded Me Of, God's Saving Grace for the Infants, If You Hear His Voice, Do Not Harden Your Heart!, Two Major Misconceptions About Salvation in Today's Christianity, About the Doctrine of Trinity, Why Study Theology If You're Not a Even Pastor?, About Christian Perfection, You Only See Me When You Need Me!, A Personal Reflection on Father's Day, Why Gamble?, When a King Sheds Blood, a Kingdom Is Established, Faith and Common Sense, The Love of Money, Does God Want Us to be Perfect?, In Dealing with the "Lucky" Chain Messages, A Mother's Day Lesson from a Sermon and a Song, Can a person be saved from his sins by the prayers of others?, Brainwashed Blind Follower?, I Hate to Be Single, but I Still Have to Wait!, Another Suggestion for NYers Who Want to Ban Balut in NY, Why Can't the Rich Be Satisfied with Their Money?, To The New Yorkers Who Hate Our Street Delicacy Called 'Balut', About Repentance - My Own Renewed View of It, Should We Fear Death?, The Value of Life, A Sudden Thought About God, Idolatry, & Atheism, Faith In Humanity?, Heart Vs. Mind: Which One Should You Really Trust?, Something More Important Than Pentecostalism, My Personal Problem with Piety & Servitude, Why Porn is NOT For Real Men, Grace and Truth: A Side of the Truth You Probably Don't Want to be True, Should Christians really listen to rock music?, A Friendly Reminder Regarding Literary Evangelism, FOR PROTESTANTS ONLY, No Religion is Above the Truth!, I Do Not Despise Haters But I Despise Their Hatred, Gracious Truthfulness, Born Poor To Make Us Rich, Philosophy Of Man & His Depravity, A Note On Women's History Month, MY LOVE LETTER TO ALL LADIES, The Poem "In Our Own Eden: A Prince's Song To His Young Wife" - The Author's Commentary Notes, I Guess The Good Old School Days Are Gone Forever, WAS IT REALLY CURIOSITY THAT KILLED THE DOG?, Insights from Acts 12 (III), Insights from Acts 12 (II), Insights from Acts 12 (I), Effects of Sin (Insights from Genesis 3-5), BAYANI, Man: The Most Special Creation of God, Sovereign Yet Restraining, A Dream by Yehudah (Jhuart Dizon), Attitude Check!, Words of Wisdom, Pisiya: Little Gems Yet to be Discovered, Tanaga: A Filipino Treasure,

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