A sheep in wolf's clothing.
And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
(Revelation 2:23) KJV
It may seen random or coincidental that the two meanings of the word reins: a bridle for a horse; or the kidneys, can be both be part of a physiological process which can guide and influence us.
Continue reading “O Lord, Search my Kidneys”
I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
(Jeremiah 17:10) NKJV
Preparing our hearts doesn’t involve special diets or exercise, it comes down to taking two simple steps: believing in Jesus Christ, and confessing our sins. The sanctification we receive from faith in Jesus makes us a holy vessel in which the Holy Spirit takes up residence. We’re indwelt by the Spirit of God.
Continue reading “Prepare Your Heart”
The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
(Jeremiah 17:9) NKJV
Heart condition may be substantially more complicated than whether we smoke, our cholesterol levels, or any of the related medical factors which are involved. It would appear that the condition of our heart is directly related to condition of our relationship with God.
Continue reading “Heart Condition”
Open Door Baptist Church
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do. And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually; And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.
On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.
( Acts 10:1-16 )
We have learned about Saul’s road to Damascus experience and his meeting with Ananias where he learned that he was a chosen vessel who would take the gospel of salvation to the gentiles.
This was followed by an evangelistic revival in the area around Antioch where followers of Christ were first called Christians.
Barnabas goes to Tarsus to find Saul, being well aware that this is what he has been called to be a part of.
Today’s passage is more spiritual motion in the direction of helping the Jews understand that their time of Divine exclusivity has ended. Grace is for everyone. However, this is going to be tricky.
Peter’s trance is designed to help him understand that the dietary restrictions of the Mosaic Law don’t apply to Christians. By extension, this means that everyone can be a Christian, it is not just for the Jews.
v. 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud
v. 9 whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters
v. 21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
v. 4 cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; v. 7 clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud
v. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.
( Leviticus 11:41-42 )
This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.
( Leviticus 11:46-47 )
Matty (Headwind) 