The first 10 chapters of Leviticus are mostly detailed accounts of various offerings the Israelites were required to perform before God...therefore, I skimmed until I found content & checked-off 5 days worth! Tomorrow should be the start of actual gleaning from this book...
Matthew 27:45-28
- Wow! Power reading today...literally..."And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people." Chapter 27, Verses 50-53
- "When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened they were terrified, and exclaimed, 'Surely he was the Son of God!'" Verse 54
- "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Chapter 28, Verse 6 The entire validity of Jesus as the Son of God & the Savior of the world is wrapped-up in those 11 words...they immediately remind me of a verse in the New Testament that says in black & white that Jesus' resurrection from the dead is everything...that our faith is nothing without that...and I couldn't find the verse on my own, so I called-up my preacher Dad who knows his Bible inside & out...and the verses I was thinking of are in 1 Corinthians 15: 13-14 "If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." Also verse 17, "And is Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." One of the most amazing things about believing in Jesus is that we can step out of our sins and take on the redeeming blood of Jesus instead...something I would never exchange...
- Jesus final words in Matthew, to the 11 disciples..."All authority in heavn and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Verses 18-20 A lot of speakers working from this passage emphasize the verb, "Go!" and challenge us that it really is an action word, used for a reason...to literally get us off our buts, out of our houses and definitely out of our comfort zones...to find people who don't know Jesus and make disciples...of all nations...
Acts 1-2:47
- Double-Wow power chapters of Acts!!! There is SO much in those few pages, it's unreal.....so many verses that just cut me to the heart..."But you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Verse 8 This means we must not be satisfied with living mediocre lives...God has given us POWER to be His witnesses!!! Can I get a witness?!!! How much courage & fortitude it will take to live as a witness for God...
- Reminder that Jesus will return..."After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight...This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Verses 9 & 11
- PENTECOST...."They were all together in one place (emphasis on the believers meeting together). Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Chapter 2, Verses 1-4 I appreciate that as it explains in the next verses...that the speaking in tongues that took place on this occasion was the speaking of truth in other actual languages...languages the believers did not already know, but of people who were there in the area, who could then hear the Truth spoken in their own "tongue".....that's what I call effective use of speaking in tongues!
- "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Verse 21
- "This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose..." Verse 23 Proof that the Jews cannot be blamed for crucifying Jesus Christ...God meant for that to happen...
- However, "...it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." Verse 24 Hallelujah!
- "You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence." Verse 28 One of the most gorgeous lines I have ever read.....and will read over & over in my lifetime.....
- "God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witnesses of the fact." Verse 32 Even we who were not there so many years ago...are all witnesses of the fact that Jesus is alive....we see Him working in our lives today, and we know the truth....!
- "God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified both Lord and Christ." Verse 36
- "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off- for all whom the Lord our God will call." Verses 38 & 39
- "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Verse 40
- And my favorite part of these two chapters is the next few verses...the entire framework for how the church should be founded on & carried-out...
- "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved." Verses 42-47
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