Acts 8:1-4 And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off … More Spreading through persecution
Matthew 5:43–48 You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on … More Treasuring the reward of heaven empowers you to love your enemy.
How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Psalm 13:1-2 ESV) C. … More Psalm 13: “How long?” or “Howling?”
Steven Cole on Genesis 31: In Genesis 31, Jacob is between a rock and a hard place. He has left Haran and is heading back to Canaan in obedience to the Lord. Behind him is his crafty father-in-law, Laban. Before him is his brother, Esau, whom he had cheated and run from 20 years before. … More God’s Protection in Hard Places
Steven Cole draws out some interesting points in our reading in Acts 7:39-60 Note the repetition in his sermon of the word “hands.” In 7:41, he mentions how in the incident of the golden calf, Israel rejoiced in the work of their hands. In 7:48, Stephen declares, “However, the Most High does not dwell in … More The Creator is not limited by man-made objects.
Here are encouraging words from D. Martin Lloyd-Jones in “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount”– He [Jesus] came, I say, and lived and died and rose again and sent the Holy Spirit in order that you and I might live the Sermon on the Mount. Do not say it has nothing to do with us. … More God give us grace to face the Sermon on the Mount
Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. (ESV) Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. (KJV) C. H. Spurgeon, in the Treasury of David, makes this comment on David’s prayer in Psalm … More David’s Prayer: Help!
“And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.” – Genesis 29:26 Jacob loved Rachel, but his uncle Laban tricked him into marrying Leah first, although he had served for seven years to be able to have Rachel. C. H. Spurgeon has a very interesting … More Rachel before Leah. Holiness before happiness.
C. H. Spurgeon comments on Psalm 11:5 “The Lord tests the righteous” from The Treasury of David: “The Lord trieth the righteous:” he doth not hate them, but only tries them. They are precious to him, and therefore he refines them with afflictions. None of the Lord’s children may hope to escape from trial, nor, indeed, in … More Showers of…trials?
John Piper, in a sermon from Acts 7, The Story of a Stiff-Necked People: So in Acts 7:1 the high priest gives Stephen a chance to defend himself, “Is this so?” he asks. And Stephen does a very strange thing. He tells a story—a condensed version of the history of Israel. He starts with Abraham … More History as a defense
