"We must obey God rather than man... And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey...Then they left rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name." Acts 5:29,32,41

What brave and courageous followers of Christ. They were not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. They had to share. They had to preach. They had to tell what they had seen and heard. It is the reason why we don't share is because we have not seen nor heard nor experience the grace and power of the resurrected Lord Jesus. There is not much rejoicing in the sufferings because we are not suffering for Christ's sake.
Is the reason why we are not experiencing the power and presence of the Holy Spirit is that we are not obeying?
Abba Father, Help me to be bold and courageous in Christ. If I must suffer for Christ sake, give me the power to do so.- Amen!

" not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day[return of Christ] drawing near."- Hebrews 10:25

What if you wanted to join a health club or some organization. You filled out the form, you were accepted into the club or organization, you even paid the initial fees. Then you never attended. You said you were a member of the Lions Club or Rotary or this gym or that gym and you never attended. You never participated in any meeting, any community projects, you never supported the organization you committed to, would you think or believe you were a member in good standing?
And yet, we have those who join a church, fill out the form, the membership accepts them and they never attend or attend seldom. They never support the church they committed to. Should they refer to themselves as members in good standing?

Abba Father, help me to love, pray for those who have neglected their church. Help me to not be judgmental or critical. Help me understand why they don't do what they aid they would do.- Amen!

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once and after that comes the judgment"- Hebrews 9:27

No one thinks they are going to die. We live like we won't die but we will. It is appointed for man to die. In fact, the day we were born we started the process of dying. Romans 10:23 says," The wages of sin is death." Yes, this ole physical body will die but will we live afterwards. God says we will! The final destination is either heaven or hell for eternity. If we know we are going to die and if we know that there is a heaven and a hell( eternal separation from God) then why would we choose hell? Unfortunately some do. They reject the gift of eternal life. There is an old song that goes like this," I know there ain't no heaven and I pray there is no hell." Well there is a heaven and there is a hell.

Abba Father, I thank You that You revealed to me a long time ago Your magnificent grace and I accepted You as my Lord and Savior. I know when I die I will be with You in heaven. Hallelujah!- Amen!

" And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God." -... Elijah prayed, " O Lord, answer me, that these people may know that You, O Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back. Then the fire of the Lord fell...And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said," The Lord , he is God; the Lord, he is God." 1 Kings 18:24,37,39

Where are the Elijahs of today? Today, the heathen rage, where is your God. What we need is the fire of God, the Holy Spirit to fall and bring about conviction and repentance. James says, " The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Abba Father, send the fire. Rend the heavens and pour out your Spirit today.- Amen

" The fool says in his heart," There is no God."- Psalm 14:1
I found this article the other day: "There is no God -- that's the conclusion of the celebrated physicist Stephen Hawking, whose final book is published Tuesday. The book, which was completed by his family after his death, presents answers to the questions that Hawking said he received most during his time on Earth. Other bombshells the British scientist left his readers with include the belief that alien life is out there, artificial intelligence could outsmart humans and time travel can't be ruled out. Hawking, considered one of the most brilliant scientists of his generation, died in March at the age of 76."There is no God. No one directs the universe," he writes in "Brief Answers to the Big Questions."
I just wonder, did Stephen Hawking find out he was right or wrong when he died?
I would rather live as if there was a God and find out there is not one than live as is there is no God and find out there is a God.
A fool or a friend of God: Which one?