God Gives A Vision

Scripture: Acts 10: 13-16

¹³Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” ¹⁴“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.^[b]” ¹⁵But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” ¹⁶The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven.

Scripture Commentary:

God gave Peter a vision that three men were looking for him, and he was told to go with them when they came. Peter received the vision three times. So when they came Peter said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

The men represented Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Cornelius wanted Peter to come to his home. During that time Jews and Gentiles had nothing to do with each other. Before having the vision Peter would have thought that a Gentile Roman official would not accept Jesus Christ. However, God prepared Peter for his mission to spread the gospel to the Gentiles.

The number three keeps coming up for Peter. What’s your number? How many times does it take before you do what God has for you? Do you even hear God talking to you and if yes, how do you respond?

Although Peter had problems he kept being God’s servant. Read Galatians 2: 11-15. God has an assignment for you.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

Acts 10

Galatians 2

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Acts:

Do What Is Right – Tell Others About God!

Can You Hear God’s Voice? He Talks to You.

God Will Respond to Detestable Sins

Scripture: Ezekiel 8: 6, 9, 18

⁶“Son of man,” he said, “do you see what they are doing? Do you see the detestable sins the people of Israel are committing to drive me from my Temple? But come, and you will see even more detestable sins than these!” ⁹“Go in,” he said, “and see the wicked and detestable sins they are committing in there!” ¹⁸Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen.”

Scripture Commentary: Disrespecting God is a detestable sin.

God tells Ezekiel of the detestable sins being committed by the Israelites. Their disrespect for God is a great abomination. God takes Ezekiel in a vision from Babylon to the temple in Jerusalem to see the wickedness of man. The religious leaders and the people were thoroughly corrupt.

Where will you stand in the judgment?

God passed judgment on them for their wickedness and this judgment continues to this day. We are so self absorbed that God is no longer a part of our lives. God shows Ezekiel in scene after scene the extent to which the people worshipped idols and pagan gods. Today we are so caught up in world values that we no longer feel we need God. We worship what we can buy; we prize what we need today. This is a stench to God.

His judgement is coming. Where do you stand?

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Ezekiel 8

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Ezekiel:

God Has Committed to Forgiving Your Sin

Is the Punishment Fair?

Do You Need Miracles to Believe?

Scripture: John 4: 48 – 50

⁴⁸Jesus asked, “Will you never believe in me unless you see miraculous signs and wonders?” ⁴⁹The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” ⁵⁰Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.

Scripture Commentary: Why do you need to see miracles to believe?

A father asks Jesus to save his son from death. Jesus asks if you need to see miracles to believe. Are you someone who needs to see the miracles in order to believe? If so, why?

Jesus died on the cross, rose on the third day, and now is with God, the Father. He sent the Holy Spirit to watch over and guide us in the way to go. We can’t see the Holy Spirit but do you believe? If you don’t believe in the Holy Spirit how can you believe in God and be a follower of Jesus Christ? They are one and the same.

The religious leaders of Jesus’s time had God’s Word but they failed to understand it. Similarly to the past we have false preachers spreading their own message, not God’s. Who are you listening to and who are you following?

Don’t get right and wrong mixed up.

There is only one God and one Satan. Don’t get them mixed up. God is love and forgiveness; Satan is self and destruction. The world’s camouflage presents a very distored picture filled with lies.

Jesus is the only way to salvation. Amen.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

John 4

Read Other Commentary From the Book of John:

The World Will Persecute You For Jesus

Remember that Jesus Loves You

God searches for the lost

Scripture: Luke 15: 4, 8, 24

⁴“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁸“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins^[a] and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? ²⁴for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Scripture Commentary:

Three parables. Lost sheep, lost coins, lost son. Jesus tells us that the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to search for the one who is missing. Why worry about one when you have so many others? Because each one is special and has something to offer.

Why is the one important?

The woman who misplaced a coin goes in search of it. What if a pair of shoes cost $11 and she only had $10 because she lost the $1. That $1 becomes important because without it, she cannot purchase the shoes she needs.

The man’s son is gone. He doesn’t know if the son is dead or alive. He has another son who is with him but he loves both sons.

God extends His hand to protect you.

God created us; we are His children. As a loving parent He looks out for and tries to protect each one of us, even when we act foolishly. Think back over your life. Do you recognize God’s hand of protection. His love is extraordinary. Don’t despair if you feel far from God. He will find you because He searches for the lost.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Luke 15

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Luke:

Do You See Yourself Clearly?

And When He Saw Their Faith

Get Away From False Preachers

Scripture: Matthew 7: 22 – 23, 28 – 29

²²On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ ²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

Scripture Commentary:

Jesus is saying beware of false preachers and teachers who say God sent them to teach you and show you the way to the Father’s kingdom. Get away from them! Keep in mind that Satan knows God’s Word and he and his disciples will use it to mislead you.

Read the Word, live the Word.

Follow God’s message. In order to know God’s Word and His message you must have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior. Living life on your terms is not God’s way. Being good your friends or to those who agree with you is not God’s way. Love and sincerely pray for the people you don’t get along with is what a true follower of Jesus does.

You get to choose how you will live your life.

The day of reckoning is coming and all your good and bad will be presented before God for judgment. No one is born perfect. God knows this and He will judge you on how you live. If you are reading this then you have time to be a servant of Jesus. Don’t be the person that Jesus says ‘I never knew you. Get away from me.’ You get to choose.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew 7

Read Other Commentary From the Book of Matthew:

Put On the Full Armor of God

Welcome Jesus Into Your Life