ACTS

Today is Monday.  What a wonderful day we had yesterday at Church.  What a blessing!  We had five baptized in the morning and three baptized in the evening.  We had six join the church in the morning and one in the evening.  We had several saved Sunday morning and it was exciting to see the crowded auditorium.  What a blessing for this preacher to behold.  God is so good to us.  Praise His Name! 

Today, I'm in Acts and I have a few thoughts to share with you that bless my heart:

1) VISION TAKES TIME- Acts 7 we see Stephen being stoned to death as the churches first martyr.  In his last sermon, he tells us about the patriarchs.  Concerning Moses, he says in verse 23 "And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel."  He had a vision "it came into his heart".  He felt like God could use him to lead his brethren.  But, it didn't happen like that.  In verse 25, we read:  "For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them:  but thy understood not."  So his vision died!  It just didn't go anywhere.  But, in verse 30 it says:  "And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the LORD in a flame of fire in a bush."  Now, at 80, God gives him another vision.  This time, God backs it up and the people eventually respond.  You see.... vision takes time!  Nothing happens overnight in the work of God, and God works for generations to spread the Gospel and influence a multitude.  When a great missionary went to Burma, he didn't have any converts his first seven years.  He lost two wives in the land and most of his children.  But, one hundred years later, there were 100,000 believers in Burma.  It takes time, it cost a price, but it is worth it.  Today, I'm enjoying Grand View Baptist Church more than ever before, but it has taken time, and it has cost a price, but God has blessed abundantly.  Give your vision time!

2) WE ARE NOT COMMON- In Acts 10:15, a simple but powerful statement is made:  "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."  We are not common, because we are cleansed!  Our own conscience would call us common, and the Devil would call us common, that accuser of the brethren, but we are not.  Now, everything Peter saw on the blanket coming down from heaven, looked common.  "fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beast, and creeping things, and fowls of the air."  They looked like common, unclean animals, so Peter naturally said "I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean."  But God, had already said:  "Rise, Peter:  kill, and eat."  Now think about us.  We look so common at times!  We look so unclean!  But, God says to us:  "What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."  We are not common, even though we look and act common, because.... God has cleansed us!!  We are cleansed!  We are forgiven forever and so we are not common, regardless of how we look to ourselves, we look special to our God!  Wow!  Praises!!

3) ARE YOU KNOWN IN HELL?  In Acts 19:13-15, the seven sons of Sceva, tried to copy what they saw Paul doing (casting out demons), so they say to a fellow "We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."  They wanted to cast out a demon spirit.  But the spirit answered:  "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"  And the evil spirit came out of the man and beat them up roughly.  So, are you known in Hell?  Could the spirit say:  Jesus I know, and Paul I know, and I know you too!  Only when we become useful to Christ's kingdom, does our name become known in Hell.  I'm not looking to be a target of Hell, but I am looking of being useful in Christ's Kingdom on earth.  I want my life to count for Christ, how about you?

Well, so much for today.  I hope your day is blessed!  Pastor Mike Mutchler