Acts 19:37 (KJV) If They Are Threatened

Acts 19:37 (KJV)
For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Barnes Notes writes,
“They had not used harsh or reproachful language of Diana. This had not been charged on them, nor is there the least evidence that they had done it. They had opposed idolatry; had reasoned against it; and had endeavored to turn the people from it. But there is not the least evidence that they had ever done it in harsh or reproachful language. This shows that people should employ reason, and not harsh or reproachful language against a pervading evil; and that the way to remove it is to enlighten the minds of people, and to convince them of the error of their ways.” 

Here is a lesson for the modern believer when dealing with those of different beliefs; we must not attempt to destroy them, or ridicule and attack them. The weapons of our warfare ought to be reasonable, gracious, and kind while, at the same time, bold concerning the truths of Jesus Christ. 

If they are threatened, let it be through the power of our Saviour and not the demeanor of our persons.

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

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Acts 19:37 (KJV) If They Are Threatened

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1 Chronicles 29:23-24 (KJV) It Runs In The Family

1 Chronicles 29:23-24 (KJV)
Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him.
And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king.

There is a general principle, that I think runs through the Old Testament, of the work of God being passed through family lines. 

• Abraham and Isaac
• Isaac and Jacob
• Jacob and his sons
• Levi 
• Moses and his brother, Aaron
• David and Solomon

In the New Testament, this same general principle seems to exist: 

• Jesus and John the Baptist
• James, the brother of Jesus
• Peter and his brother
• John and his brother

The principle is only general. It didn’t apply in every case and in many of those times when it did apply the results were less than perfect. Still, the principle was there. 

In the case of David and Solomon, the Bible says that all Israel obeyed and that the princes, the mighty men and the sons of King David submitted themselves. 

That’s still generally a good plan. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

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1 Chronicles 29:23-24 (KJV) It Runs In The Family

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Acts 17:26 (KJV) One Body, One Blood

Acts 17:26 (KJV)
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

God made all nations of men from one stock. Whether they are Asian, African, Latino or European matters not. We all come from the same blood. 

God has then, from all these nations, made one new man, Ephesians 2:15 (KJV) 
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

So that now, Colossians 3:11 (KJV)
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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Acts 17:26 (KJV) One Body, One Blood

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1 Chronicles 25:1 (KJV) The Gift of Music

1 Chronicles 25:1 (KJV)
Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the workmen according to their service was:

David separated some for the particular work of prophesy through music. I was interested that music would be considered a form of prophesy. 

This word means “word or song by inspiration.” The ancient Hebrew concept is, “inner fruit, something that comes from within us.” 

Of course, there are people who abuse this gift, offering their fruit to the gods of this world. Still, the gift, the ability to perform music well is soul-stirring. 

• Those who have this gift should not take it lightly
• Neither should those who are ministered to through it 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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1 Chronicles 25:1 (KJV) The Gift of Music

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Acts 15:11 (KJV) We Believe

Acts 15:11 (KJV)
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

The “we” being Jewish converts to Christ and the “they” being Gentile converts to Christ, “we” and “they” are saved the same way, “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Certainly, there are standards of righteous living. There are Christlike things to add to our walk and there are fleshly things to mortify and remove from our walk. Once we are saved, we are no longer Jews or Gentiles; we are Christians and are to be joined to a local church, which is the body of Christ. But salvation is all of grace. It is the work of Jesus Christ. 

Peter said “we believe…we shall be saved, even as they.” It’s more than a doctrinal consent but a matter of faith and of the heart. This thing is not just what we say, it is what we believe and that upon which we act. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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Acts 15:11 (KJV) We Believe

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1 Chronicles 21:27 (KJV) David’s Own To Perform

1 Chronicles 21:27 (KJV)
And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.

It was David’s own sin that caused the plague and it was up to David to stop the plague. I see:

David took personal responsibility 

He called upon God and confessed his own sin. He prayed for God to release the people from the plague and judge him instead. 

David obeyed God personally
The offering God commanded was David’s own to perform. He did not order the thing to be done. He did the thing himself. 

David paid the price personally 
His position afforded him many privileges. Ornan would have cheerfully given this offering of his own accord. David would not even accept a discount. This required the full price. 

And the LORD commanded the angel to put up his sword. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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1 Chronicles 21:27 (KJV) David’s Own To Perform

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Acts 14:21-22 (KJV) All A Believer Needs

Acts 14:21-22 (KJV)
And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Albert Barnes writes concerning this passage, “The expression “to confirm” has in some churches a technical signification, denoting “to admit to the full privileges of a Christian by the imposition of hands” (Johnson). It is scarcely necessary to say that the word here refers to no such rite.” 

I am reminded that we people tend to impose into Christianity what we think, what is tradition and not always what is biblical. Ever since I began the ministry, I have been almost pressured to have discipleship classes. This, on top of the regular services of church. I see no such discipleship in the Bible and tend to think they are an effort to educate interested but unsaved people into behaving as if they were saved. It seems to me that the saved would join themselves to a church and attend services faithfully enough to get their discipleship right there. 

I see, in this passage, a threefold plan for the growth of the believer. 

Confirming the souls
Strengthening them. Giving them messages meant to develop their faith and organize the church.

Exhorting them
Drawing them near. Urging them on in their walk with the Lord.

Ordaining elders
Selecting out of them a pastor to help them in their spiritual confirmation and exhortation 

That’s all the believer needs. a church, a message from God and a preacher to deliver it. 

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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Acts 14:21-22 (KJV) All A Believer Needs

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1 Chronicles 17:1 (KJV) More Than A Friend

1 Chronicles 17:1 (KJV)
Now it came to pass, as David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the LORD remaineth under curtains.

I notice that when David had this thought of building the house for God, the prophet Nathan was in David’s house with him. I realize that the king’s house would have been vastly different than our houses today, however, I can’t help but sense a closeness and familiarity between the men. Nathan was there, sitting with David in his house. I get the impression this was a common occurrence. I also note that, when God spoke to Nathan in his own home, he had no hesitations in returning to David’s house to deliver the message. 

The people of God need a close and unhindered fellowship with their preacher. They must be able to tell him what they are thinking, and he must be able to tell them what God’s answer is. 

I do see a problem here. Nathan was there to hear what was on David’s heart, but the relationship was close enough that Nathan replied with what was on his own heart. The preacher must be more than a friend exchanging ideas with us. 

• He must be free to have quiet time with God
• He must be free then to take the time to hear from God before responding and 
• He must be free to give the response God gives him to deliver

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

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My author Page for Kindle/Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/author/marvinmckenzie

1 Chronicles 17:1 (KJV) More Than A Friend

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Acts 12:12 (KJV) What Will You Do?

Acts 12:12 (KJV)
And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Having been miraculously released from a prison cell, it took Peter a moment to come to himself. Having done so, he had options. Whenever the Lord sets us free those options exist. Peter, the Bible says, considered the thing:

Should he flee?
He will, before this chapter is over, leave the region. 

Should he get in the face of Herod?
Having God deliver him, he may have believed himself to be invincible. He and James had been detained overnight before, been released before and were up preaching in the very place they had been arrested the next day. 

He chose to join the believers in prayer
Interesting, isn’t it? He knew where they would be and what they would be doing. 

What will you do with your liberty?

To my readers:
First of all, thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. Secondly, I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and more than 4800 earlier Daily Visits with God visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

For more resources from Pastor Marvin McKenzie visit http://puyallupbaptistchurch.com.

My books are available at:
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My author Page for Kindle/Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/author/marvinmckenzie

Acts 12:12 (KJV) What Will You Do?

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You might also be interested in this devotion on the same passage.