August 06, 2020, Psalms 147, Acts cont...

The last three days in the Psalms. What can you highlight about God's character. 

Psalms 147

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Extol the Lord, Jerusalem; praise God, Zion. He strengthens the bars of your gates and blesses your people within you. He grants peace to your borders and satisfies you with the finest of wheat. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can withstand his icy blasts? He sends his word and melts them; he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel. He has done this for no other nation; they do not know his laws.

He is worthy to be praise. It is fitting that we should praise him. 

Praise the Lord. 

His understanding has no limit

His word runs swiftly

He strengthens the bars of your gates

He grants peace and safety

He builds up Jerusalem 

He has revealed his word to Jacob and his laws and decrees to Israel.  

Acts cont..

Aeneas and Dorcas

Chapter 9, 32-43

As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord's people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man name Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. Aeneas, Peter said to him, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat. Immediately Aeneas got up. All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 

In Joppa there was a disciple name Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, "Please come at once!" Peter when with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 

Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, Tabitha, get up. He took her by the and helped her to her feet. Then he called for believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. This became know all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner name Simon.

The word spread fast; and it is amazing because I think God is doing the spreading. The psalms says his word travels swiftly. It is nothing bad about being well known and I want to say that I think God wants his name to be glorified through his servants. It says Davids fame spread about. If you have the right intentions..... well bless God because he wants you to be well-known and people will get to know him through you. How wonderful is that?

Peter stays with the Tanner Simon. 

But what is a tanner? (some type of occupation) 

 The Jews looked upon tanning as an undesirable occupation and well they might, for at best it was accompanied with unpleasant odors and unattractive sights, if not even ceremonially unclean.

What great things a man can do with the Holy Spirit. No wonder it is called a gift. There are also a lot of believers in the book who do not have the ability to do what Peter does, and that is okay. There was a time when the disciples could not cast out evil spirits in the gospels. But now Peter's shadow is so powerful it heals people. Secondly these men had right hearts before God. Who is performing God or man? I would say God, give your heart to him and who knows what God will do in and through you...

Have a great day!