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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness Gal 5:22 |
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Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Wednesday, March 27, 2019
Today's Passage : Today's Passage:The Good News is Preached in Samaria Bible Verse:Acts 8:9-17 "There was a man named Simon in that city who had been practicing magic for some time and mystifying the people of Samaria. He pretended that he was somebody great and everyone from the lowest to the highest was fascinated by him. Indeed, they used to say, “This man must be that great power of God.” He had influenced them for a long time, astounding them by his magical . But when they had come to believe Philip as he proclaimed to them the good news of the kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, men and women alike were baptized. Even Simon himself became a believer and after his baptism attached himself closely to Philip. As he saw the signs and remarkable demonstrations of power which took place, he lived in a state of constant wonder. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the Word of God, they sent Peter and John down to them. When these two had arrived they prayed for the Samaritans that they might receive the Holy Spirit for as yet he had not fallen upon any of them. They were living simply as men and women who had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. So then and there they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. " Message:
Samaria is an oddity. It is easy to locate if you have a map of the original country of Israel, after the British partition and before 1967—Samaria looks like a huge bite taken out of eastern Israel, north of Jerusalem. Israel looked a bit like a dumbbell, and Samaria is what makes the middle of it so narrow.
Its relationship with the Jews is as strange as its location. It was both a part of ancient Judah and a separate country. During the time of Roman occupation, it was part of the Roman colony, Judea, and under the rule of Herod the Great. It was considered a separate province, with Israel to the south and Galilee to the north.
Even if God gives you a thousand reasons to quit . . .
As a country and people, however, the Samaritans were bitter enemies of the Jews, often the principal enemies, as big a problem as the Philistines. The official deity was Ba’al (although a large numbers Samaritans formed a breakaway Jewish sect and worshipped YHWH). This is why Christ chose a Samaritan in the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, because a Samaritan would be the last person on earth one would expect to help an injured Jew by the side of the road.
So Samaria is really the first “Gentile” land to which the Word of Christ was spread. (The Jerusalem Greeks who had converted were Greek-speaking Jews.) Remember, Christ himself visited the borderland and converted the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well. (John 4.)
We have just read that Philip went to Samaria immediately after Stephen was martyred. Simon, a witch, would probably not have been allowed to live in Judah or Israel. The conversion of such an utterly evil man, a very disciple of Satan, attests to the power of Christ and the dedication of Philip.
For some untold reason, although they are converted and baptized under Philip’s influence, the Samaritan converts do not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John arrive. As we discussed before, the identity of Philip is unclear: there were two great disciples named Philip, the Apostle Philip, who was one of the original 12 apostles, and a later convert who became a great missionary named “Philip the Evangelist” or “Philip the Deacon.” While most indications are that Philip who traveled to Samaria was the apostle, his failure to bring the Holy Spirit to the Samaritans would argue the opposite.
At any rate, the Sanhedrin’s chasing the Christians out of Jerusalem by stoning Stephen has an unexpected consequence. The disciples of Christ, now scattered all over Judea, have begun a widespread conversion of the Jewish people. In terms of religious politics, the last thing the Sanhedrin wants is to lose their base of power; they are rapidly becoming effete religious aristocrats, with no country to rule.
Meditation : [I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” (Martin Luther)] Prayer : May God the Father bless us; may Christ take care of us; the Holy Ghost enlighten us all the days of our life. The Lord be our defender and keeper of body and soul, both now and for ever, to the ages of ages.......Amen |
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