Tag: BREAD
Children’s Bread
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
Baptism and Communion Service
You can watch us live each week!
http://www.lmcigreenville.org/watch-live/
Service Times
Sunday AM: 11am
Sunday PM: 6pm
Wednesday: 7pm
www.lmcigreenville.org
Worship Cast License #: 6786
CCLI #: 3105920
KINGDOM AND HIDDEN LEAVEN
MATTHEW 13:33 – ANOTHER PARABLE SPAKE HE UNTO THEM; THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE UNTO LEAVEN, WHICH A WOMAN TOOK, AND HID IN THREE MEASURES OF MEAL, TILL THE WHOLE WAS LEAVENED.
THE LEAVEN IS HIS, IT LOOK’S LIKE THE KINGDOM BUT IS NOT. SATAN HAS A COUNTERFIT FOR MANY THING’S.
DURING THE TRIBULATION PERIOD HE HAS AN UNHOLY TRINTY, THE ANTICHRIST, THE FALSE PROPHET, AND SATAN HIMSELF.
JESUS WARNED US THERE WOULD BE GREAT DECEPTION IN THE LAST DAY.
APOSTASY COMES IN TWO FORMS:
PEOPLES HEARTS GROW COLD AND THEY TURN AWAY FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD IN THEIR LIVES. THEY ARE GOVERNED BY SELF WILL. THEY ONCE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD; THEY HAD PASSION FOR GOD.
BUT NOW THEY SERVE THEIR FLESH. THEY ARE THE KING OF THEIR OWN KINGDOM; THEY NOW WRITE THEIR ON BIBLE AND MAKE THEIR ON COMMANDMENTS. THEY ARE SELF WILLED.
APOSTASY, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS TURNING FROM FAITH TO A MIXTURE OF TRUTH AND INTERFAITH DOCTRINE.
THE NUMBER THREE DENOTES DIVINE PERFECTION.
THE NUMBER THREE IS THE NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THE GOD HEAD.
GOD’S PLAIN OF REDEMPTION IS PERFECT AND WAS CARRIED OUT PERFECT, BECAUSE IT CAME BY THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST.
BREAD REPRESENTS ETERNAL LIFE FROM THE GODHEAD.
FALSE DOCTRINE HAS HID SOMETHING IN THE BREAD.
THIS WOMAN REPRESENTS FALSE RELIGION OR DOCTRINE.
REV 17:1b – COME HITHER; I WILL SHOW YOU THE JUDGEMENT OF THE GREAT WHORE THAT SITTEH UPON MANY WATERS (PEOPLE OR NATIONS).
THIS WOMAN REPRESENTS THE DECEPTION OF MANY PEOPLE IN THE LAST DAY, AND A ONE-WORLD CHURCH CONTROLLED BY THE DEVIL HIMSELF.
THIS WOMAN IS HIDING SOMETHING IN THE MEAL: IT IS LEAVEN. THIS LEAVEN WILL CHANGE THE ORGINAL FORM OF THIS MEAL.
THE GREEK WORD USED HERE FOR MEAL IN MATT 13:33, IS ALISGOMA, A NOUN, WHICH MEANS TO POLLUTE; POLLUTION BY UNCLEAN; CONTAMINATION.
THIS SPIRIT OF THE GREAT WHORE CONTAMINATED THE TRUTH. NOW IT’S GROWING AND CHANGING FORM.
LEAVEN IS A TYPE OF SIN AND WRONG DOCTRINE.
JESUS SAID BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES. HE MEANT THEIR TEACHING THEIR DOCTRINE.
JESUS IS THE UNLEAVEN BREAD, HIS TRUE KINGDOM FEEDS UNLEAVEN BREAD: GRACE AND TRUTH, WHICH GIVES LIFE.
LEAVEN IS A SILENT WORKER; IT CHANGES THE ORGINAL FORM.
THIS PICTURE OF THE LEAVEN, WOMAN AND THE THREE MEASURES OF MEAL, REPRESENT, EVIL, TILL THE WHOLE BE FILLED OR WAS LEAVENED.
LAST DAY APOSTASY IS HERE. SCRIPTURE IS CONTAMINATED BY SELF INTERPRETATION. THE TEACHING OF THE GREAT WHORE IS HERE, DECEPTION IS GROWING IN MANY CIRCLES.
THE LEAVEN HAS BEEN WORKING IN MANY CHRISTIAN SEMINARY’S FOR YEARS. MANY TEACHER’S AT THESE SCHOOL’S ARE NOT BORN OF THE SPIRIT AND ARE POISONING THE MIND’S OF STUDENT’S.
MANY OF THESE SCHOOL’S AND DENOMINATIONS ARE DENYING THE VIRGIN BIRTH AND DENYING THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
THEIR MINISTER’S ARE PERFORMING SAME SEX MARRIAGE AND ARE BLINKING AT THE SIN OF ABORTITION AND SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE.
THEY DENY JESUS AS THE ONLY WAY TO THE FATHER. THEY DENY THE INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD. THEY ARE NOT IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD BUT HAVE A FORM gODLINESS.
I LOVE ALL PEOPLE: LOST, SAVED, IN ERROR, OR IN ANY RELIGION. I RESPECT ANYONE AND THEIR RIGHT’S. WE ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO ENTER ITO THE KINGDOM OR NOT. WE ALL HAVE THE CHOICE TO BELIEVE GOD AND OBEY HIM AND HIS WAY TO ENTER AND LIVE IN HIS KINGDOM OR TO FACE JUDGEMENT WITHOU OUR ADVOCATE JESUS.
I WAS THE CHEIF OF SINNER’S AND GOD FORGAVE ME THROUGH THE CROSS. SO I LOVE EVERYBODY, BUT I MUST TELL SPEAK THE TRUTH.
I PRAY FOR THE LOST, I PRAY FOR THOSE IN ERROR, I PRAY FOR THOSE IN OTHER RELIGIONS.
I WILL PRAY A PRAYER WITH ANYONE TO ACCEPT JESUS, BUT I WILL NOT PRAY WITH AN INTERFAITH GROUP OR PERSON.
I PRAY THE KINGDOM WAY, FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
MANY EVANGELICIALS ARE COMPROMISING AND CONNECTING TO ALL FAITH GROUP’S: WORKING AND PRAYING TOGETHER.
DO YOU REALIZE THAT WHAT WE DO AS CHRISTIANS, WE ARE TO DO IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND FOR HIS GLORY.
TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD OUR FAITH MUST BE UNLEAVEN BREAD, JESUS. TO STAY A CHILD OF THE KINGDOM WE MUST KEEP OUR FAITH IN ONE SACRIFICE: THAT IS JESUS ON THE CROSS. DON’T TRAMPLE UNDER FOOT THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
HEBREWS 10:29 – OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT SUPPOSE YE SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, AND HATH COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING AND HATH DONE DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE.
THIS MESSAGE IS GIVEN WITH MUCH LOVE AND WITH GREAT HUMILITY, FOR I AM NOTHING WITHOUT MY JESUS, MY GREAT KING.
THEY ENDURE BUT FOR A TIME
There are many times in the book of Revelation, where we are instructed to endure to the end. Today we are going to discuss endurance out of the account of Mark four. For those who are not familiar with this text: Jesus is the sewer and the Word of God is the seed. We are the soil.
Whether we are the good ground or the stony:
is up to us.
Mark 4: 16,17 —- And these are they likewise which are sown
on stony ground; who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it
with gladness;
And have not root in themselves, and so
endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction (or hardship, trouble) or
persecution ( or torture or oppression) ariseth
for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Many of us have gotten a
glimpse of heaven in a mighty service or a revelation from God in our private
time with Him. The word we received was
alive to us and in us. We knew it was
just what we needed. Everything was so
clear: God had it all under control, and we were in His hands. Nothing could shake that. It was settled. But then, afterward, when
affliction or sorrow or persecution arose, because of the Word, we immediately
become offended, displeased, indignant, and resentful. Our affections are divided. We had more of the rocky than the good soil
in our hearts. No wonder we could not
endure. The Word of God could not strike
a deep root in our souls.
This is when we were not
constant in the faith; and in our hour of temptation, we faltered.
I see this so much among
believers. They are rooted in the
Word. They didn’t take what Word they
got, and meditate on it until it could get down in their spirit man. It seemed to only help the hour or the day
they heard it. Then, BOOM! It was gone.
Brothers and sisters, we
have all been there.
Getting rooted and grounded
takes time.
The Word has to become alive
in our spirits to produce faith to endure.
We have to speak it everyday; eat and digest it, so to speak.
You could say, “I spoke the
Word over Aunt Lucy, but she died. The Word don’t work”.
Our Lord warns, we will
encounter such cases, which first excite hope, and expectation, and then clouds
the soul of the Christian laborer with disappointment and grief.
The Word in us is supposed
to produce fruit. But to endure, we have
to prepare the soil.
How do we prepare the soil?
Look at Matthew 13:19-21
—- When anyone heareth the word of the
kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one (Satan) and catcheth away that which was sown in his
heart. This is he which received seed by
the wayside.
But he that received the seed into stony
places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon (or in a while) with joy
reveiveth it.
Yet hath he not root in himself, but
dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the
word. By and by he is offended.
From this
account in Matthew we see this same story which we know as the Parable Of The
Sower. We know Satan is the one who
steals the Word, and we know He is the one who causes trials and persecution.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S
ATTACKS
So, to prepare the soil, we
have to deal with Satan’s attacks. He
comes immediately to rob from us, the Word we received with joy.
It’s no wonder he hates the
Word of God, and does all in his power to steal it from us.
Look at what Psalm 119:105
has to say about the Word:
Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
It shines like a light on my feet and directs
them where to go. It keeps us from
stumbling.
Verse 11 —– Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might
not sin against Thee.
Acts 17:11 —- These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they (talking about the Jews in the synagogue at
Berea) received the word with all
readiness of mind (or we could say with a ready-mind), and searched the scriptures daily , whether those things were so (or
true).
The word shows us what is
true and what is error.
We could go on to John 17:17
were we are told we are sanctified through God’s truth, because His word is
truth: That God will , through His word,
set us apart to Himself.
In II Timothy 3:15,16, we
find the word is …able to make us wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
And that it is
God-breathed …and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
God reveals Himself through
His word; and in it, He shows us how we
are to live after we become a Christian.
His word has an authority
which far reverses the ambition for greatness seen in secular philosophers.
And I Peter 2:2,3 tells us,
His word causes us to grow up in Him.
And Joshua 1:8 —- This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all
that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
In this verse alone, we are
told we can be prosperous and successful if
We speak the Word
We meditate the Word day and night
We do what it says
It’s no wonder the devil wants to steal it!
Jesus used the Word against
Satan. During His temptation in the
wilderness, Jesus said, “It is written, It is written, It is written,” after
which, Satan left Him for a season.
We are instructed also, in
Mark 16, to use the name of Jesus. He
has given us that authority. Look at
verse 17a —- And these signs shall
follow them that believe: In My name they shall cast out devils;…
This is one of the last
instructions given by Jesus before He ascended into heaven, —– and verse 20
reads like this —-And they went forth,
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word
with signs following. Amen.
They were not alone in their
commission, this verse says the Lord was working with them. Also we see here, that
signs follow the word.
DON’T GET DISTRACTED, STUDY THE
WORD
Another way to prepare the
soil, for the Word is not to let distractions, around us, keep us from studying
the Word of God.
II Timothy 2:15 —- Study to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is not enough to read and
study the Word, we have to be able to know how to use it.
USE THE WORD AGAINST SATAN
Jesus knew which part of the
Word to use against Satan during His temptation. He quoted the Scripture that fir the
situation.
Look at Matthew 4 starting
with verse 1
Then
was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when He had fasted forty days and
forty and forty nights, He was afterward
ahungered.
And when the tempter came to Him, He
said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But He answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God.
THEN Satan did a strange
thing: He quoted a Scripture to Jesus: verse 6 —- And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for
it is written,
He
shall give His angels charge concerning thee;
and in their hands they shall bear the
up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot
against a stone.
Now, let’s read that verse
from the Old Testament, from which He is Quoting, Psalm 91:11 —- For He shall give His angels charge over
thee, to keep thee in all thy ways …
He left out that last
part. Why? Look at it again …. to keep thee in all thy ways…—-
Because the omission of this sentence alters the whole character of the
quotation, taking into account that the word, ways, implies ways
appointed by God.
Then once again, the devil
tempted Jesus; and once again Jesus used the Word of God against him.
In the next part to this
temptation of Christ, Satan said in verse8 and 9
—-Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And
saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me.
Verse 10 —- Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hense (or
be gone!), Satan: For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
Ten, in verse 11, the devil
left Him, and angels came and ministered unto Him.
Jesus was tempted on three
levels:
1-
Physically
2-
Spiritually
3-
Intellectually
Each of which, He won, using the Word of God.
He quoted the right Scripture for each attack.
He knew how to combat every blow.
If we know the Word, we should know who we are in Christ. This will give us an advantage over the enemy
of our soul.
If we know the Word, we know our future.
If we know the Word, we know God will always fight our battles, and
bring us the victory.
If we know the Word, we know Satan’s future. Aso it would be good to remind him and
ourselves, of this fact.
Say it with me,
“Satan, your kingdom is
coming down”
“The blood of Jesus is
against you!”
“I can do all things
through Christ which strengthenth me.”
“No weapon formed against
me shall prosper”
and on and on, we can go.
All of God’s children go through attacks of Satan, trying to steal the life
out of us: which is God’s Word; but isn’t it wonderful, that when we are rooted
and grounded in the Word, we can endure until the end.
At that point, he will never again cause us to doubt God and His word,
nor can he steal from us.
I will leave you with these last two verses:
1-
Romans 8:31b —- …If God be for us, who can be against us?
2-
Isaiah 40:8 —- The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but
the Word of our God shall stand forever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Bless the name of the Lord!!!!
SWEET SLEEP
SLEEP IS IMPORTANT TO OUR DAILY HEALTH.
OUR BODIES CAN GO JUST SO MANY HOURS WITHOUT IT, THEN MAJOR PARTS OF OUR BODIES BEGIN TO BE FATIGUED AND OR EMOTIONS BECOME ALL OUT OF SORTS; WE CAN’T THINK CLEARLY, AND OTHERS AROUND US ARE AFFECTED.
IT WAS EASIER FOR US TO GET A GOOD NIGHT’S REST WHEN OUR EMPLOYMENT WAS FARMING AND PHYSICAL LABOR; BUT NOW, WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH MUCH MENTAL STRESS: ON THE JOB AND AT HOME. WE HAVE MACHINERY AND ALL KINDS OF APPLIANCES NOW, THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE OUR WORK EASIER BUT WE JUST SEEM TO “ADD-IT-ON” INSTEAD OF REST WHILE WE CAN.
SOME YEARS BACK, I HAD AN ILLNESS, THAT REQUIRED MUCH REST AND SLEEP. I QUICKLY NOTICED HOW THE NAPS I WAS TAKING WERE HEALING. IWAS WEARING OUT MY BODY AND WAS ALL STRESSED-OUT.
SLEEP IS DEFINED AS A STATE OF COMPLETE OR PARTIAL UNCONSCIOUSNESS.
IN THE SCRIPTURES, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 21 REFERENCES, AND MAYBE MORE, REFERRING TO SLEEP OR THE LACK OF IT.
SLEEP IS DESCRIBED AS SLUMBER IN PROVERBS 6:4,10. PROVERBS 3:24, IT IS DESCRIBED AS SWEET – WHEN THOU LIEST DOWN, THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID: YEA, THOU SHALT LIE DOWN, AND THY SLEEP SHALL BE SWEET. HERE, IT SAYS…THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID…
SO WE MUST ASSUME, FEAR KEEPS SOME FROM HAVING SWEET SLEEP.
VERSE 25 – BE NOT AFFRAID OF SUDDEN FEAR , NEITHER OF THE DESOLATION OF THE WICKED, WHEN IT COMETH; AND VERSE 26 READS – FOR THE LORD SHALL BE THY CONFIDENCE, AND SHALL KEEP THY FOOT FROM BEING TAKEN.
MANY PEOPLE ARE PARALIZED WITH FEAR, AND FEAR BRINGS WITH IT TORMENT. WE ARE TOLD IN THE BIBLE, THAT FEAR IS A SPIRIT; IT IS A HARASSING DEMON THAT KEEPS PEOPLE FROM BEING AT PEACE SO THEY CAN’T ENJOY A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP.
SOMETIMES GOD USES THE LACK OF SLEEP FOR HIS PURPOSE: IN DANIEL 8:18, DANIEL WAS GIVEN A PROPHETIC VISION IN HIS SLEEP: – NOW AS HE WAS SPEAKING WITH ME, I WAS IN A DEEP SLEEP ON MY FACE TOWARD THE GROUND: BUT HE TOUCHED ME ND SET ME UPRIGHT ( OR MADE ME STAND UP).
IN DANIEL 2:1, WE SEE WHERE THE INABILITY TO SLEEP IS CAUSED BY WORRY – NEBUCHADNEZZAR DREAMED DREAMS…WHEREIN HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED, AND SLEEP BROKE FROM HIM (HE COULD NOT SLEEP). WORRY CAN CAUSE ANY OF US TO HAVE INSOMNIA. IN ESTHER 6:1, THE KING COULD NOT SLEEP BECAUSE GOD WANTED HIM TO READ THE BOOK OF CHRONICLES.
INTERCESSORS AND MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, CAN’T SLEEP BECAUSE GOD HAS A PURPOSE IN MIND: MOSTLY, SO THEY CAN PRAY AND INTERCEDE ABOUT SOMETHING OR FOR SOMEONE.
PETER WAS FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON (DUNGEON). JAMES HAD ALREADY BEEN BEHEADED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, AND PETER WAS NEXT IN LINE: ACTS 12:1-11 – NOW ABOUT THAT TIME HEROD THE KING, STRETCHED FORTH HIS HANDS TO VEX CERTAIN OF THE CHURCH. AND HE KILLED JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN WITH THE SWORD. AND BECAUSE HE SAW IT PLEASED THE JEWS, HE PROCEEDED FURTHER TO TAKE PETER ALSO. (THEN WERE THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD). AND WHEN HE HAD APPREHENDED HIM , HE PUT HIM IN PRISON, AND DELIVERED HIM TO FOUR QUATERNIONS OF SOLDIERS TO KEEP HIM; INTENDING AFTER EASTER (PASSOVER) TO BRING HIM FORTH TO THE PEOPLE. PETER THEREFORE WAS KEPT IN PRISON; BUT PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM. AND WHEN HEROD WOULD HAVE BROUGHT HIM FORTH, THE SAME NIGHT PETER WAS SLEEPING BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS: AND THE KEEPERS BEFORE THE DOOR KEPT THE PRISON.
AND BEHOLD, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON HIM, AND A LIGHT SHINED IN THE PRISON: AND HE SMOTE PETER ON THE SIDE, AND RAISED HIM UP, SAYING, ARISE UP QUICKLY. AND HIS CHAINS FELL OFF FROM HIS HANDS. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO HIM, GIRD THYSELF, AND BIND ON THY SANDELS. AND SO HE DID. AND HE SAITH UNTO HIM, CAST THY GARMENT ABOUT THEE, AND FOLLOW ME. AND HE WENT OUT, AND FOLLOWED HIM; AND WIST NOT THAT IT WAS TRUE WHICH WAS DONE BY THE ANGEL; BUT THOUGHT HE SAW A VISION. WHEN THEY WERE PAST THE FIRST AND SECOND WARD THEY CAME UNTO THE IRON GATE THAT LEADETH INTO THE CITY; WHICH OPENED TO THEM OF HIS OWN ACCORD. AND THEY WENT OUT, AND PASSED ON THROUGH THE STREET; AND FORTHWITH THE ANGEL DEPARTED FROM HIM. AND WHEN PETER WAS COME TO HIMSELF, HE SAID, NOW I KNOW OF A SURETY, THAT THE LORD SENT HIS ANGEL, AND HATH DELIVERED ME OUT OF THE HAND OF HEROD, AND FROM ALL THE EXPECTATION OF THE JEWS.
THIS WAS A TRYING TIME IN OUR HISTORY WHERE THE CHURCH WAS GOING THROUGH HARASSMENT AND PERSECUTION. WE FIND PETER FAST ASLEEP IN A PRISON.
BECAUSE HEROD, THE KING, SAW HOW IT PLEASED THE JEWS TO WATCH JAMES BE KILLED BY THE SWORD, THAT HE DECIDED PETER WOULD BE NEXT: AFTER THE PASSOVER.
SOMETIMES WE FIND IT HARD TO SLEEP AFTER WE HAVE PASSED THROUGH A TRIAL DURING THE DAY OR WE ATE PIZZA LATE IN THE EVENING.
THIS STORY OF PETER AMAZES ME BECAUSE PETER KNEW WHAT WAS TO TAKE PLACE THE NEXT MORNING, YET WE FIND HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE WHE WAS TO BE EXECUTED, AN A DEEP SLEEP, CHAINED BETWEEN TWO SOLDIERS, AND GUARDED WELL.
HEROD’S GREAT DESIRE TO PLEASE THE PEOPLE BY GIFTS AND SHOWS OF BLOOD TO WIN THEIR FAVER, HAD BEEN FOILED. HE WAS PLANNING TO BRING PETER UP ONTO A STAGE OR SOME HIGH GROUND WHERE ALL THE PEOPLE COULD SEE HIM CONDEMNED WHICH WOULD BE AS GOOD THEM AS A GLADIATORIAL SLAUGHTER TO A ROMAN AUDIENCE.
THIS IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION WAS JUST THE RIGHT TIMING FOR A MIRACULOUS EVEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. WHEN THE BATTLE SEEMS THE HOTTEST, THE VICTORY IS USUALLY THE SWEETEST.
SUDDENLY, THE LIGHT SHOWN IN THE PRISON! THE ANGEL HAD TO AWAKE PETER OUT OF A VERY DEEP SLEEP AND RESCUE HIM AS THE SOLDIERS SLEPT ON DUTY. THIS, BY THE WAY, IS AN UNFORGIVABLE ACTION OF A SOLDIER. THIS WAS HIS DEATH WARRENT.
WHY DID PETER HAVE SUCH A CALM DEEP SLEEP ON THE NIGHT BEFORE HIS INTENDED DEATH? BECAUSE HE KNEW HE WAS IN THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD, AND KNEW IT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A BATTLE GOING ON FOR HIS LIFE. PETER LIVED WHAT HE TAUGHT THE CHURCH.
WE LEARN SWEET SLEEP AND REST FROM THESE GREAT SOLDIERS OF THE CROSS; BUT THERE IS ONE MORE WAY WE LEARN: AND THAT IS THROUGH EXPERIENCING GOD’S PROMISES THROUGH OUR BEING TESTED.
LAST NIGHT I WAS STUNG IN THREE PLACES ON MY BODY BY A SCORPION IN BED DURING MY SLEEP. THE LAST TWO STINGS CAUSED ME TO JUMP OUT OF BED AND TURN ON THE LIGHT. THERE HE WAS, A BROWN SCORPION, READY TO STING AGAIN. MY HUSBAND SOON CAPTURED MY LITTLE ENEMY, AND I WENT BACK TO BED, AFTER CHECKING FOR MORE OF HIS LITTLE SCORPION FRIENDS. —-DID THIS KEEP ME AWAKE? NO! —-I WENT BACK TO SLEEP, LEAVING MYSELF IN THE HANDS OF THE ONE WHO IS FAITHFUL: MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
