I want to share some very powerful verses from our Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan for today! The first are found in Psalm 32:10-11:
10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you [uncompromisingly] righteous [you who are upright and in right standing with Him]; shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Notice that it is a forgone conclusion from the Word of God that the wicked, who sometimes SEEM to be getting all of the favor and recognition and prosperity BUT, we are told here, WE, when we rely on and lean on the Lord our God, will be surrounded by God's MERCY and LOVINGKINDNESS! So, let's be obedient here and REJOICE in the Lord and SHOUT FOR JOY! Amen!
Then in Acts 4 we see the disciples bringing healing to a lame man and, of course, the religious leaders were NOT happy about that! They detained them and questioned them. I LOVE Peter's answer to to them on how the man came to be healed! Verses 9-12:
9 If we are being put on trial [here] today and examined concerning a good deed done to benefit a feeble (helpless) cripple, by what means this man has been restored to health, 10 Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body. 11 This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. 12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved.
This was the same Peter who had denied that he even knew JESUS before! NOW listen to him preach! What happened? He was reborn by the Spirit of God and then, two chapters ago, he was filled with Holy Spirit and anointed with POWER from on high! HALLELUJAH! Because the religious leaders had no answer to Peter's declaration, they told them to stop using the Name of JESUS and I also LOVE their answer here! Verses 19-20:
19 But Peter and John replied to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must decide (judge). 20 But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we have seen and heard.
AMEN! And they never stopped! They ran their race. They finished their course! Can WE do less? NO! Let's be actively about our Father's business and get the job done! Here is Hillsong with "No Reason To Hide":
Shalom in Him!
