watertolive
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One of the many journeys of Paul Acts 16:14-31
Now Paul came into the city of Thyatira and met a woman named Lydia, who worshipped God. And heard Paul and Silas preaching, and the Lord opened her heart to receive Paul. She and her household were baptized.
Lydia said to them "if ye have (judged) me faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there".
***Wait...who (judged) Lydia faithful???
Was it man? or the Holy Ghost within the man?
Ouch!!! There are many false teachings on judging. And they want to lean on one scripture, and their own understanding. False teachers have been misleading many, for a couple thousand years now.
It is God, (the Holy Ghost in me), judges all things; and I follow Him.
He does not lead his children blindfolded, He never has and He never will.***
Now, they went to prayer. A damsel, possessed with a spirit of divination (pagan practice, speaking to dead spirits, seeking the will of the gods) followed Paul and cried, These men are servants of the most high God, and show us the way to salvation. It grieved Paul and he commanded the spirit to come out of her.
This displeased her masters for Paul had upset their money gain. They caught Paul and Silas and brought them to the marketplace before the rulers.
Then saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city. They teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither observe, being Romans.
The multitude rose up against them, and beat them. After laying many stripes on them, they cast them into prison. Now, receiving such a charge, they were put in the inner part and their feet chained to the floor as well.
Paul and Silas didn't lose heart, they prayed and sang praises at midnight: the other prisoners heard them. Then a great earthquake shook the foundation and all the doors opened and their bands were loosed. The jailer drew his sword to kill himself, supposing the prisoners had fled.
Paul cried, Do no harm to yourself, we are all here.
The jailer came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, and said, What must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your house.
Do we continue to praise God, even when the carnal appears hopeless?
Is your faith in self, a family member, your preacher; or God?
Our faith grows tremendously when we walk the steps that were walked out before us.
We will suffer much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of God.
Have you suffered anything for His name sake?
Paul suffered tribulation in every city he entered.
Paul suffered many beatings, and prison stays.
(They) sought to kill him how many times.
Paul suffered blindness, by the hand of God, before his journey even started. Acts 9
As do we all start out blind, then God lifts the dark veil and gives us His wisdom and understanding by revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Paul believed! Why? How? because He had been touched by the hand of God.
His life of killing and imprisoning believers in Christ was the very hand that God dealt to him.
God said, Paul is a chosen vessel of mine. I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Acts 9:15-16
Read the rest of the chapter, to see what happens...it's worth it.
God first, always.
Now Paul came into the city of Thyatira and met a woman named Lydia, who worshipped God. And heard Paul and Silas preaching, and the Lord opened her heart to receive Paul. She and her household were baptized.
Lydia said to them "if ye have (judged) me faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there".
***Wait...who (judged) Lydia faithful???
Was it man? or the Holy Ghost within the man?
Ouch!!! There are many false teachings on judging. And they want to lean on one scripture, and their own understanding. False teachers have been misleading many, for a couple thousand years now.
It is God, (the Holy Ghost in me), judges all things; and I follow Him.
He does not lead his children blindfolded, He never has and He never will.***
Now, they went to prayer. A damsel, possessed with a spirit of divination (pagan practice, speaking to dead spirits, seeking the will of the gods) followed Paul and cried, These men are servants of the most high God, and show us the way to salvation. It grieved Paul and he commanded the spirit to come out of her.
This displeased her masters for Paul had upset their money gain. They caught Paul and Silas and brought them to the marketplace before the rulers.
Then saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city. They teach customs which are not lawful for us to receive, neither observe, being Romans.
The multitude rose up against them, and beat them. After laying many stripes on them, they cast them into prison. Now, receiving such a charge, they were put in the inner part and their feet chained to the floor as well.
Paul and Silas didn't lose heart, they prayed and sang praises at midnight: the other prisoners heard them. Then a great earthquake shook the foundation and all the doors opened and their bands were loosed. The jailer drew his sword to kill himself, supposing the prisoners had fled.
Paul cried, Do no harm to yourself, we are all here.
The jailer came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, and said, What must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your house.
Do we continue to praise God, even when the carnal appears hopeless?
Is your faith in self, a family member, your preacher; or God?
Our faith grows tremendously when we walk the steps that were walked out before us.
We will suffer much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of God.
Have you suffered anything for His name sake?
Paul suffered tribulation in every city he entered.
Paul suffered many beatings, and prison stays.
(They) sought to kill him how many times.
Paul suffered blindness, by the hand of God, before his journey even started. Acts 9
As do we all start out blind, then God lifts the dark veil and gives us His wisdom and understanding by revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Paul believed! Why? How? because He had been touched by the hand of God.
His life of killing and imprisoning believers in Christ was the very hand that God dealt to him.
God said, Paul is a chosen vessel of mine. I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. Acts 9:15-16
Read the rest of the chapter, to see what happens...it's worth it.
God first, always.
