Acts 27

Paul leaves for Romeverses 1-2

And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy

they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners to one

named Julius a centurion of Augustus’ band

And entering into a ship to Adramyttium – we launched

meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia

one Aristarchus – a Macedonian of Thessalonica

being with us

Paul boards an Egyptian shipverses 3-8

And the next day we touched at Sidon

and Julius courteously entreated Paul

and gave him liberty to go unto his friends

to refresh himself

And when we had launched from thence – we sailed under Cyprus

because the winds were contrary

And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia

we came to Myra – a city of Lycia

and there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria

sailing into Italy and he put us therein

And when we had sailed slowly many days

and scarce were come over against Cnidus

the wind not suffering us

we sailed under Crete – over against Salmone

and hardly passing it came unto a place which is called

the Fair Havens – nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea

Paul spoke about the danger aheadverses 9-12

Now when much time was spent – and when sailing was now dangerous

because the fast was now already past – Paul admonished them

and said to them

Sirs – I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt

and much damage – not only of the lading and ship

but also of our lives

Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship

more than those things which were spoken by Paul

and because the haven was not commodious to winter in

the more part advised to depart thence also

if by any means they might attain to Phenice

and there to winter which is an haven of Crete

and lies toward the southwest and northwest

Typhoon hits the shipverses 13-20

And when the south wind blew softly

supposing that they had obtained their purpose – loosing thence

they sailed close by Crete

BUT not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind

called Euroclydon – and when the ship was caught

and could not bear up into the wind – we let her drive

And running under a certain island which is called Clauda

we had much work to come by the boat – which when they had taken up

they used helps -undergirding the ship

and – fearing lest they should fall into quicksands

struck sail – and so were driven

And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest

the next day they lightened the ship

and the third day we cast out with our own hands the

tackling of the ship

and when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared

and no small tempest lay on us

ALL HOPE that we should be saved

was then taken away

Paul gathers crew to tell of visit from an angelverses 21-26

But after long abstinence – Paul stood forth in the midst of them – and said

Sirs – you should have hearkened to me

and not have loosed from Crete

and to have gained this harm and loss

AND now I ex hort you to be of good cheer

for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you

BUT of the ship

for there stood by me this night the angel of God

WHOSE I am – and WHOM I serve – saying

Fear not – Paul

You must be brought before Caesar

and lo – God has given you all them

that sail with you

WHEREFORE sirs – be of good cheer – FOR I believe God

that it shall be even as it was told me

Howbeit we must be cast on a certain island

Paul warns that no one should leave shipverses 27-32

BUT when the fourteenth night was come

as we were driven up and down in Adria

about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near

to some country

And sounded – and found it twenty fathoms

and when they had gone a little further – they sounded again

and found it fifteen fathoms

THEN fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks

they cast four anchors out of the stern – and wished for the day

And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship

when they had let down the boat into the sea

under color as though they would have cast anchors

out of the foreship

Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers

Except these abide in the ship – you cannot be saved

Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat – and let her fall off

Paul prays over final meal on shipverses 33-38

AND while the day was coming on

Paul besought them all to take meat – saying

This day is the fourteenth day that you have tarried

and continued fasting – having taken nothing

Wherefore I pray you to take some meat

for this is for your health

for there shall not a hair fall

from the head of any of you

AND when he had thus spoken – he took bread

and gave thank to God in presence of them all

and when he had broken it – he began to eat

THEN were they all of good cheer – and they also took some meat

and were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls

and when they had eaten enough – they lightened the ship

and cast out the wheat into the sea

Ship hits the rocks off an islandverses 39-41

And when it was day – they knew not the land

but they discovered a certain creek with a shore

into which they were minded – IF it were possible

to thrust in the ship

And when they had taken up the anchors

they committed themselves unto the sea

and loosed the rudder bands

and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind

and made toward shore

And falling into a place where two seas met – they ran the ship aground

and the forepart stuck fast – and remained unmoveable

but the hinder part was broken with the

violence of the waves

Paul saves the other prisonersverses 42-44

And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners

lest any of them should swim out and escape

BUT the centurion – willing to save Paul – kept them from their purpose

and commanded that they which could swim should

cast themselves first into the sea – and get to land

and the rest – some on boards

some on broken pieces of the ship

AND so it came to pass – that they escaped all safe to land.

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go to his friends to refresh himself. (1958 “refresh” [epimeleia] means care of an especially cautious and attentive manner, attention, to provide whatever is needed, attention, or care)

DEVOTION: Paul was under arrest. He was on a prison ship headed for Rome. He had a friend who traveled on the ship with him named Aristarchus. He was probably the only one who had a friend with him during this voyage.

The trip had started toward Rome, Italy. They stopped in a place called Sidon and his guard let him go ashore to visit with other friends. So we find that the LORD had given Paul favor in the eyes of Julius who was in command of the troops that were guarding him.

These friends encouraged Paul and provided whatever he needed at the time and probably for the rest of the voyage. They were good friends who cared about what was happening to Paul.

God sends friends into our life to provide encouragement when needed. Sometimes it is even necessary for them to provide for our physical needs. Friends are important in the life of everyone.

Today we have fewer friends usually in the past because our world has become so impersonal. We would rather text than speak. We have answering machines to see if were really want to talk with someone. Many people will listen to the message and then decide to pick up or not. Some say they will call back but never do.

Those who are genuine friends are always available when there is a need. They will talk when you need someone to talk to. They will be honest with you if you need correction. They will genuinely love you.

We have such a friend in heaven. HIS name is Jesus Christ. HE wants to hear from us. HE wants us to be honest with HIM concerning what we are struggling with even though HE already knows what we are struggling with. HE wants us to depend on HIM for the answers we need in life. HE sometimes sends just the right person into our life to help us with a special need we might have.

I appreciate those who come alongside me when I am going through difficult times. Hope you do the same.

CHALLENGE: Especially when Jesus helps you there needs to be a “Thank YOU” time. This is true of human friends as well.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them (3867 “admonished” [paraineo] means exhort, advice strongly, warn, urge, or recommend)

DEVOTION: This word is used in verse 22 as well in this chapter. In that verse the word is translated “exhort.” Here we find that Paul is trying to advise strongly that the crew and soldiers listen to him. He wants to save all those who are onboard the ship.

The LORD sent an angel to inform him that all those who were on the ship will be safe if they stay on the ship. Paul was to go to Rome to witness before Caesar regarding Jesus Christ. That was going to happen. God was going to make sure it was going to happen. HE encouraged Paul to realize that it was going to happen no matter what the current circumstances looked like to him.

We are at times thinking that we are on a sinking ship and there is no way that we are going to live through the experience. That is not true. The LORD knows each experience HE puts in your life and it is for your personal growth.

Paul was still learning about the workings of the LORD in his life. HE trusted God completely regarding the shipwreck. What would our reactions be in the same circumstance?

Has the LORD ever spoken to you regarding a certain circumstance you were going through to give you the assurance that HE is right there by your side. The Bible informs us that HE will never leave HIS children. HE is with us through every circumstance HE allows in our life.

Sometimes we need chastening and HE is right there by your side while you are going through HIS chastening. HE loves us. HE protects us. We need to understand this fact about our relationship with HIM. This is what will give us the same confidence that Paul had during this shipwreck.

Also realize that HE might send someone to walk with you during that circumstance to help guide you. HE knows who we trust in the human realm. HE will even use a friend to help you through your present circumstance.

CHALLENGE: If you are presently going through a difficult time period in your life and you are a believer. Trust the LORD to be walking with you and protecting you. Remember HE loves you as one of HIS children.

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope what we should be saved was then taken away. (5494 “tempest” [cheimon] means storm, bad weather, winter, foul weather, a violent weather condition with winds and precipitation and often thunder and lightning, or heavy rains)

DEVOTION: We sing a song “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame … on Christ alone I stand. All other ground is sinking sand ….” Hope is very important in the life of a human being. If all hope is lost many people feel there is nothing to live for.

This is happening all around us today. There are many who think their life is hopeless. The people on the ship with Paul had this feeling. Remember we are not base our life on feeling.

The Word of God states that those who have faith in Jesus Christ always have hope. HE gives them hope. Paul had hope. He also had a vision from an angel that told him that all the lives of those who were on the ship would be spared. He gave hope to the rest of the people on the ship.

We need to give the hope of Jesus Christ to others. They need to see hope in our life and want it. Share your hope with others.

CHALLENGE: Putting your confidence in the belief that Jesus Christ always gives you hope in any circumstance.

: 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. (2114 “good cheer” [euthumos] means be encouraged, happy, cheerful, merry, to put in good spirits, gladden or to be joyful)

DEVOTION: These two words are repeated three times in this chapter. Think about the circumstances surrounding these three statements to be joyful. First Paul was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. Then he had to wait over two years for a hearing with the governor. He had to appeal to Caesar because the governor wanted to please the Jews and send him back to Jerusalem. Now he was on a ship in the sea that was facing a terrible storm.

An angel of God appeared to him and told him that he was going to make it to Rome. Paul conveyed this message to the centurion. Paul wanted the people to which he was witnessing to understand that he was in good spirits, even in his chains. Only true believers can be full of joy when involved in the storms of life. Paul was standing in front of 276 men and giving his witness of the provision and protection of the LORD. The men probably thought he was crazy. He wanted them to know that he truly believed in that entire message that God sent to him.

Are we confident in all of our circumstances that God is with us? Are we expecting an angel to talk with us? Do we expect the Holy Spirit to talk with us through the Word of God or other people when we are facing life’s trials? Do we hold on to the promises of the word of God? Are we of a joyful spirit in trying circumstances? James tells us to “count it all joy” when we fall into trials.

CHALLENGE: During the next trial in your life – smile. Tell those around you that the LORD is in control. Paul knew this. We should know it too. HE promises the peace that passes all understanding!

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Fast verse 9

Long abstinence verse 21

Involuntary fasting verse 33

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Paul prayed for food verse 35

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

God verses 23-25, 35

Thanks to God verse 35

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Angel verse 23

Angel of God verses 23-24

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Italy verse 1, 6

Prisoners verse 1

Julius – a centurion verses 1, 3, 11, 41

Augustus band verse 1

Adramyttium verse 2

Asia verse 2

Aristarchus – a Macedonian verse 2

Sidon verse 3

Cyprus verse 4

Sea of Cilicia verse 5

Pamphylia verse 5

Myra – city of Lycia verse 5

Alexandria verse 6

Cnidus verse 7

Crete verses 7, 12, 13, 21

Salmone verse 7

Fair Havens verse 8

City of Lasea verse 8

Phenice verse 12

Euroclydon – tempestuous wind verses 14-20

Clauda verse 16

Caesar verse 24

Adria verse 27

Soldiers verses 32, 42

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Prisoners verse 1

Kill verse 42

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Liberty verse 3

Admonish verse 9

Good cheer verses 22, 25, 36

Jesus whose I am verse 23

Serve verse 23

Fear not verse 24

Believe verse 25

Gave thanks verse 35

Good cheer verse 36

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Church (New Testament people of God)

Paul verses 1, 3, 9, 11, 21- 26, 31, 33- 36, 43

Friends verse 3

Refresh each other verse 3

Last Things (Future Events)

DONATIONS:

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QUOTES regarding passage

21–26 Undoubtedly Paul shared the general pessimism on board ship (cf. the inclusive use of “we” in v. 20). But one night toward the close of the fourteen-day storm, “an angel of God” stood by Paul and reassured him (v. 24) with a message of comfort for this time of crisis (cf. 23:11). The next morning when Paul shared it with his companions on shipboard, he was human enough to (in effect) say “I told you so” to those who had not taken his advice at Fair Havens. Moreover, ever one to give advice, he added that in his opinion they would not be saved without running aground on some island. (Longenecker, R. N. (1981). The Acts of the Apostles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 561). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

For there stood by me (παρεστη γαρ μοι [parestē gar moi]). Second aorist active (intransitive) indicative of παριστημι [paristēmi] with the locative case (beside me). The very form used by Paul of his trial (2 Tim. 4:17) when “the Lord stood by me” (ὁ δε κυριος μοι παρεστη [ho de kurios moi parestē]) when others deserted him. This angel of the God whom Paul serves (in distinction from the heathen gods) is the reason for Paul’s present confidence. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 27:23). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

The passengers and probably also the crew had gone … without food for a number of days. Perhaps the storm had destroyed much of the supplies; some evidently were seasick; and perhaps many were too discouraged to eat (cf. v. 33). After Paul reminded them of the advice he gave earlier at Crete (cf. v. 10), he encouraged them with a message from God. This was not the first time a vision had lifted Paul’s spirits (cf. 18:9–10; 23:11); in fact, in the Jerusalem vision (23:11) God promised Paul not only safety there but ultimately a safe journey to Rome. Here too God (through an angel) promised that Paul would stand trial before Caesar. Twice Paul urged his shipmates (all 275 of them; cf. 27:37) to keep up their courage (vv. 22, 25). The verb “to keep up one’s courage” (euthymeō) is used only three times in the New Testament—twice here and in James 5:13 (“to be happy”). The verb has the idea of having good feelings or being in good spirits. Even as a prisoner Paul did not hesitate to make known his faith in God. (Toussaint, S. D. (1985). Acts. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 428). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

“Paul began as a prisoner,” said Joseph Parker; “he ended as the captain.” Paul “took over” the situation when it was obvious that nobody else knew what to do. A crisis does not make a person; a crisis shows what a person is made of, and it tends to bring true leadership to the fore. Paul gently rebuked the centurion, pilot, and captain for ignoring his warning. Soon they would discover that God had spared all of them only because of Paul.

Consider Paul’s four ministries of encouragement to the passengers and crew.

He shared God’s Word with them (vv. 22–26). A messenger from the Lord had visited Paul and told him that the ship and cargo would be lost, but that all the passengers would be spared and cast on an island. Once again, the Lord gave him a special word of encouragement at the right time (Acts 18:9–10; 23:11). Today, we are not likely to have visions, but we do have the promises in His Word to encourage us (Isa. 41:10; 43:1–5; Rom. 15:4). It was for Paul’s sake that God did this, and it was Paul’s faith that God honored. What a testimony he was to the people on that storm-tossed ship! (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 509). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

27:23, 24 The last of 6 visions Paul received as recorded by Luke (cf. 9:3–6; 16:9, 10; 18:9, 10; 22:17, 18; 23:11). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ac 27:23). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

Ver. 23. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, &c.] One of the ministering spirits that stand before God, and who was sent by him to the apostle; and appeared to him, either in a vision by a dream, or rather when he was awake, and stood by him, as he was praying for deliverance from the storm; for it is most likely that the apostle should be engaged at such a time as this: whose I am, and whom I serve: meaning not the angel, but God, whose the angel was; and his the apostle was, by electing, redeeming, and calling grace; God the father had chosen him in his son unto salvation; and Christ had redeemed him by his blood; and the Holy Spirit had called him by his grace; and he was not only the Lord’s in common, as all other saints are, but he was his apostle and minister, and served him in the ministration of the Gospel of Christ, as well as from a principle of grace, obeyed the law of God, and was subject to the ordinances of Christ; in all which he served with great pleasure and cheerfulness, diligence, constancy, and faithfulness; from right principles, and with right views, being constrained by love, and influenced by the consideration of the relation he stood in to God. And all this was not peculiar to the apostle, but common to all the saints, excepting that of his being an apostle and minister of the Gospel: and the consideration of their relation to God has the same influence upon them it had upon him; they are not their own, nor are they the servants of men, nor do they belong to Satan, nor even to the ministering angels, but they are the Lord’s; not merely by creation, as all men are, but in a way of special grace: they are Jehovah the father’s, to whom he bears a peculiar love and favour, and whom he has chosen in his son for his peculiar people; and which is made manifest and known by drawing them with loving kindness to himself in effectual vocation; by his Gospel coming in power to them; by the blessings of the covenant of grace being bestowed on them; and by the spirit of adoption witnessing to them, that they are the children of God: they are Jehovah the son’s, they are his people made willing in the day of his power; they are his portion assigned him by his father; they are his spouse and bride, whom he has betrothed to himself; they are his children, to whom he stands in the relation of the everlasting father; and they are his sheep the father has given him, and he has laid down his life for; all which appears by their having his spirit, as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification, without which none are openly and manifestatively his: and they are Jehovah the spirit’s; they are his regenerated and sanctified ones; they are his workmanship, having his good work of grace begun and carrying on in their souls; they are his temples in which he dwells; he has the possession of them, and will not leave them till he has brought them safe to glory: and under all this evidence, and especially through the testimony of the spirit of God unto them, they call themselves the Lord’s, as the apostle here does, and this engages them to serve him. The natural man has no desire, but an aversion to the service of God; converted men are willing to serve him, and delight to do it; they serve God in the best manner they can, in righteousness and true holiness, in an acceptable manner, with reverence and godly fear, and heartily and willingly; as appears by the pleasure they take in being called the servants of God, by disclaiming all other lords, by running all risks to serve the Lord, and by lamenting it, that they serve him no better. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 393–394). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

Paul’s words were not just mere optimism. Mere optimism in such circumstances would have been folly. Nor was his message a vague “Have faith!” That, too, would have been folly, apart from some positive assurance from God.

Paul had something solid on which to base his word of encouragement and cheer. He had received a visit, that very night, from the angel of God.

Nobody on board that boat, in that wide and angry sea, had any idea at all as to where the ship really was. God knew. He was able to give His herald angel the exact latitude and longitude. It had not been out of His sight for a single moment.

Of all the missions from God above to men on earth entrusted to that angel, this surely must have been one of the strangest. Picture the angel on his return to heaven. Here comes Michael, archangel of the armies of heaven. “Well, Gabriel, and where have you been off to this time?” “I’ve been to sea!” “To sea?” “Yes, I had a message for that grand saint of God, the apostle Paul. He was on board a sinking ship. You never saw such a mess—sick people, scared people, wreckage everywhere, the whole ship reeking, the captain and crew exhausted, lost, and at their wits’ end. Tell me, Michael, why is it these mortals can never use the slightest bit of common sense—especially when they have in their midst a man like Paul in touch with the throne of God?”

Paul based his confidence on the word he had just received from God. It was not a new revelation; he had been told it before. He must be brought before Caesar.

What a revelation of God’s love! He must be brought before Caesar, before Nero, before that monster whose vileness and wickedness would soon fill the world with horror and whose memory would haunt history for all the rest of time. Paul must appear before Caesar. That wretched man must hear the gospel before plunging over the precipice. It seems that Paul was released from his Roman imprisonment in a.d. 62; Nero burned Rome in a.d. 64; and he committed suicide in a.d. 68—the same year he martyred Paul. He must be given one last chance. Paul had kept before him one great goal: “I must see Rome” (Rom. 1:10–16). Now God says to him: “You must appear before Caesar. You are quite right, Paul. You must see Rome.” (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary (Ac 27:23–24a). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp

FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

Today’s unwed mother is not a teenager, but is more likely to be in her 20s. While teen pregnancy has declined, out-of-wedlock births among 20-something women has exploded. Today, “58 percent of first births among working and lower middle classes . . are now to unmarried women.” That’s right, I said 58 percent. (Settling for Shocked: Drifting Into Parenthood by Eric Metaxas)

77 Percent of Americans Think Morality is On the Decline; 1 in 3 Think the Bible is the Answer

A new report finds Americans overwhelmingly — 77 percent — believe morals are declining in the U.S., with the most-cited cause for the decline a lack of Bible reading, the Religion News Service reports. The American Bible Society’s annual State of the Bible survey, which details Americans’ beliefs about the Bible and its role in society, found that the Bible remains a highly valued, influential force in America, but also uncovered a significant disconnect in belief versus behavior. While 66 percent of those surveyed agreed that the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life, 58 percent said they do not personally want wisdom and advice from the Bible, and about the same amount — 57 percent — read it fewer than five times per year. More than half (57 percent) of Americans ages 18 to 28 report reading the Bible less than three times a year or never. “Americans overwhelmingly recognize the decline of morality in our nation,” said Doug Birdsall, president of American Bible Society. “The good news is the Bible is the ultimate instruction guide on how to live a moral life. Unfortunately, more than half of Americans rarely, if ever, read it. If we had a cure for cancer, wouldn’t everyone with cancer take it? Americans are telling us that the cure for declining morality is sitting on our bookshelves. But more than half of Americans are simply letting the cure gather dust.” Religion Today Daily Headlines – April 2, 2013

Genesis 9
God covenants with Noah never to flood the earth again.

INSIGHT

A person is only as good as his word. If he is true to his word, he can be trusted; if he is not, he cannot. It is as simple as that. God promised that He would never destroy the earth with a flood again. He went even further by saying, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (based on Genesis 8:22). Then God set a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise

For thousands of years, God has been true to His Word. We sometimes get discouraged during the tough times in life, because we tend to focus on our particular circumstances rather than the promises of God.

We must remember the rainbow. God is true to His Word. He can be trusted

(Quiet Walk)

HOLY SPIRIT’S DEITY

Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. 1 Corinthians 12:4,6
We must demonstrate the Holy Spirit’s deity. This is a vital part of the doctrine of the Trinity. It is only Christians who believe this doctrine; all other religions fail to do so, as do all errors and heresies. The Trinity is the key that unlocks all truth. So we must look at the evidence.
The Scripture itself specifically asserts the deity of the Spirit. I take you back to that terrible incident with Ananias and Sapphira. After asking, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” Peter continued, “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts5:3-4). “The terrible thing that you have done,” said Peter in effect, “is that you have not only been lying to men; you thought that you were just lying to us, the apostles, and to the other Christians, but no, you have been lying to God.” And just previously he had said that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit. So clearly that is a specific statement that the Holy Spirit is God.
But we also find that the Spirit’s name is coupled with the name of God, and this not only establishes His personality but His Deity. This is seen in the baptismal formula, in the apostolic benediction, and also in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul writes, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all” (verses 4,6). At one point we are told it is the Spirit who does this, and the next moment we are told that it is God—the same God who works all and in all, and He is the Spirit. Therefore, the Spirit is God—His deity is proved.
A Thought to Ponder: Scripture specifically asserts the deity of the Spirit.
(From God the Holy Spirit, p. 15, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

The Holy Spirit’s Ministry: Stimulating Patience for Us
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. . . . Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Romans 8:19, 21-25)
The Holy Spirit has insured us with a witness with our own spirit that, as the children of God, we have certain affirmations about our relationship with the Creator. Clearly, we are to know that our eternity is “reserved in heaven” for us, since the power of none other than the Creator Himself keeps us (1 Peter 1:4-5).
The current “fellowship of his sufferings” that we are privileged to now endure (Philippians 3:10) has absolutely no comparative value to the glory we will share with our Redeemer for eternity. It is a fact that the creature (read “creation”) is an unwilling participant, “groaning” in those sufferings. Yet, because of the Holy Spirit’s witness, we have an “earnest expectation” that assures us “that in nothing [we] shall be ashamed, but that . . . Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death” (Philippians 1:20).
We “are saved by hope,” but we have not seen that hope. Hope seen is not hope. Hope expected is patiently waited for. (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)

Obeying the commandments is how we fulfill the law of love, and love is at the heart of holiness (v.10) If you care about love you will love to obey the Ten Commandments. (p. 46, The Hole In Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung)

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