SPEECHLESS? OR SPEECHLESS!--GOD DECIDES "THEY SHALL PROPHESY"

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, MAY 7, 2014

SPEECHLESS? OR SPEECHLESS!--GOD DECIDES "THEY SHALL PROPHESY"

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
  Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. ACTS 1:6-14

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 

 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 

 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 

 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 

  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 

 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 

  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 

  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 

  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 

 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 

 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 

 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 

  For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 

  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 

 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: ACTS 2:1-18 

SPEECHLESS? OR SPEECHLESS!-- GOD DECIDES

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, MAY 7, 2014

SPEECHLESS?  OR SPEECHLESS!-- GOD DECIDES

Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. I CORINTHISAN 2:6-16

SPEECHLESS? OR SPEECHLESS!-- GOD DECIDES

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY. MAY 7, 2014

SPEECHLESS? OR SPEECHLESS!-- GOD DECIDES

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
LUKE 1:57-80

SPEECHLESS? OR SPEECHLESS!-- GOD DECIDES

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, MAY, 7, 2014

SPEECHLESS? OR SPEECHLESS!--  GOD DECIDES

 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
  And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
  According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
  And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
  And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. l LUKE 1:5-20

THE BREATH OF LIFE

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, MAY, 6, 2014

THE BREATH OF LIFE

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. EZEKIEL 37:9,10

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
 JOHN 20:21,22

TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, MAY 5, 2014

TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART

 Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:
 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:
  Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:
  Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;
  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.
 Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:
  Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame.
  But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.
 For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:
  And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:
 And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
 Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.
 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they say unto you, Thou land devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy nations;
 Therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith the Lord GOD.
  Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord GOD.
 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
 Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
 Wherefore I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
  And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
 And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of his land.
 But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
  And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
  For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
  Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
  And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
  I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
  And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
  Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.
  And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
  Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.
 Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
  As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the LORD. EZEKIEL 36

THE DIVINITY OF THE TRINITY

IN THE BEGINNING...THE WORD
DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY, MAY 4, 2014

THE DIVINITY OF THE TRINITY

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
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; 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; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. ACTS 17:24-29

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

ROMANS 1:16

 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 

 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 

And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: COLOSIANS 2:6-10