Opening Hymn Acts chapter 12; We gather together by Cedarmont Kids.
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing
He chastens and hastens his will to make known
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing
Sing praises to his name, he forgets not his own
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining
Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine
So from the beginning the fight we were winning
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be thine!
We all do extol thee, thou leader in battle
And pray that thou still our defender will be
Let thy congregation escape tribulation
Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
Opening Prayer:
Father, teach me how to pray. I don’t always need to know what to pray for, but I do so desperately need to pray. I need to pray for others; to pray about the dangers that beset us as a nation and as a world. Help me to open my heart and be honest before you. I know that in the mystery of prayer, a mystery that I cannot fathom, something is happening that makes possible the activity of your Spirit to work in unusual ways, ways that otherwise would never happen.
Today we are going to discuss from the book of Acts chapters 12 to 17
Herrod Aggrila was very jealous and had James, the brother of John killed because he wanted his position. He also had Peter picked up on killing him too, but did not. He wanted to kill James because he was close to The Heavenly Father, and he wanted to get back at him as well. All of this is against God, and he does not believe in it. It is also against the 10 commandments. We suggest you look them up and remember them. Please also think about that God cannot be around sin. At the time of Jesus’s resurrection disciples had started a ministry. It was done to help with fighting corruption. Even back in the times corruption existed. An example of this is sorcery amongst the jews. Today’s example would be world corruption. If corruption around the world is gotten rid of, more joy and peace will result.
While Paul and Barnabus were in another country they ran into opposition about preaching the gospel. This was to help with the division that was between the Greeks and the jews. There was also a division between the churches about circumsision. The jews wanted to keep the law of Moses. Paul was on the fence about this and some of the jews turned gentiles and was not circumsized. Paul took Timothy with him to Preach. There was a law around that time about baptism. The disciples of Christ had to endure a lot of opposition for preaching the Gospel. 3 days were spent in synagogues. The bottom line of this week is that you had corruption, jealousy, and opposition for preaching the gospel. Over the years corruption grew much worse, and corruption is a big sin. You should think before you do something against someone else either because you are jealous, or you think they did something that they did not do. Whoever did do things against another person should ask for forgiveness and repent and mean it. If not, they could end up in the darkness and not the light. The actions should stop and the people that it was done to should be left alone, and let them live out thier lives. God wishes for people to enjoy life and have peace. Let us stop setting people up, falsifying records, etc.
Anyone who wishes to become a child of God should say the following prayer.
Heavenly Father, I am a sinner, and I wish for the Holy Spirit to come into my heart and show me the way without sin. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Closing Hymn; Acts chapter 17, Help us o lord to learn by Hope publishing company:
Help us, O Lord, to learn
the truths thy word imparts:
to study that thy laws may be
inscribed upon our hearts.
Help us, O Lord, to live
the faith which we proclaim,
that all our thoughts and words and deeds
may glorify thy name.
Help us, O Lord, to teach
the beauty of thy ways,
that yearning souls may find the Christ,
and sing aloud his praise.
Closing Prayer:
I praise You O God for this sublimely simple truth and thank You that all I had to do to be saved was to believe on the finished work of the Lord Jesus on Calvary. There are many people in the world today and in my own family, that have not believed this simple truth. I pray that You will use me as your instrument today, to share the good news of the glorious gospel of Christ – in action, attitude or prayer, so that others may come to a saving knowledge of this eternally wonderful truth, in Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.
Benediction: Go in peace and share with people you know, if your country allows; the Gospel and the message. God bless the ones that he chooses to be his vessels. Praise him for letting it be. Have a good and joyous week and have peace. Lift up everything to the lord, and he will take care of it.