SEEING THE GOODNESS OF GOD ACTS 13: 18 Now as soon as it was - TopicsExpress

SEEING THE GOODNESS OF GOD ACTS 13: 18 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the kings chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the kings country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. But the word of God grew and multiplied. CAN YOU OR WILL YOU SEE THE GOODNESS FO GOD IN THIS STORY? GOD HAD GIVEN HEROD MANY YEARS OF LIFE & MANY OPPORTUNITES TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS POWER & GOODNESS. HE REFUSED & WHEN HE PRESUMED TO CROSS THE THRESHOLD OF THE LIMIT GOD HAD ESTABLISHED, MAKING HIMSELF OUT TO BE GOD FOR THE PEOPLE, GOD READ HIS MOTIVES & PUBLICLY DESTROYED HIM & HIS INFLUENCE AGAINST GOD. THIS CAUSED THE GOSPEL OR THE WORD OF GOD TO SPREAD BY MULTIPLACATION THROUGHT OUT THE WORLD TO BE RECEIVED BY ALL WHO WOULD LOOK FOR THE GOODNESS OF GOD. . ACTS 17: 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; IT IS OUR PRIVILEGE TO BELIEVE & EXPERIENCE GODS PERSONAL CLOSENESS. HE WORKS THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES EVERY DAY TO DRAW US TO HIM & REVEAL HIS GOODNESS TO US. IF WE WILL PLACE OURSELVES IN A POSITION WHERE HIS HOLY SPIRIT CAN IMPART TO US THAT WHICH WE ARE NOT BORN WITH & ARE COMPLETLY UNABLE TO PRODUCE FOR OURSELVES HE WILL FULFILL HIS PROMISE TO US. WHAT CAN WE DO IF WE REALIZE OUR NEED OF SOMETHING BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAVE? 2 COR 3: 18 & ROMANS 2:4 THESE ARE THE TWO PLACES IN SCRIPTURE WHERE GOD MAKES IT PALIN WHAT OUR PART IS IN RECEIVING HIS GOSPEL. HE ILLUSTRATES THE PROMISED RESULTS BY A STORY IN NUMBERS 21: 4-9. WE WILL AVOID THE FATE OF HEROD & OTHERS WHO BOLDLY DEFIED GOD & HIS WORD. ANYONE WHO IGNORES GODS INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE AS IGNORANT OF GODS PRESENCE & POWER AS HEROD WAS & WILL FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE. MOST PEOPLE WHO CLAIM TO BE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS HAVE CONFUSED FOLLOWING WITH LEADING. MATT 7: 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? STUDY JESUS WORDS. WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: (YOU NEVER ALLOWED ME BY FAITH TO ENTER INSIDE OF YOU & REPRODUCE MY CHARACTER). depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (ANY WORK THAT DOESNT INCLUDE MIND TRANSFORMATION IS INIQUITY) 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: WE ALL ARE BUILDING OUR SPIRITUAL HOUSE BOTH GOOD & BAD. 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. LEARNING TO COMPLETLY TRUST JESUS IS THE ROCK & THE SPIRITUAL HOUSE WE ARE TO BUILD BY COOPERATING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT BY OBEYING GODS WORD OF INSTRUCTION TO US. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: THE WORD FOOLISH USED BY JESUS IS THE GREEK WORD MORON. DUE TO BEING BUSY BUILDING THEIR SPIRITUAL HOUSE IN THE WAY THEY W ANTED TO BUILD IT THEY NEVER RECEIVED FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT THE SPIRITUAL INSIGHT OF THE NEW BIRTH. A GIFT FROM GOD THAT WOULD HAVE OPENED THEIR SPIRITUAL EYESIGHT TO SEE THEMNSELVES AS THEY REALLY WERE. 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. HEROD WOULD HAVE BEEN USED OF GOD FOR GREAT GOOD IF HE WOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME TIME OUT OF HIS SELF WORSHIP TO “BEHOLD A GREATER GOD, IN EVERY WAY, THAN HIMSELF & SO WILL WE.