Category: Scripture

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Excerpts from Job, Chapter 38

“”Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind? Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path of the lightning?

Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? Who sends the rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?

Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew? Who is the mother of ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? For the water turns as hard as a rock, and the surface of the water freezes.

Can you direct the movement of the stars – binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? Can you direct the sequence of seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?

Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? And who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods? “” (Job 38: vv. 24-38, NLT)

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“But believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went. Phillip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Phillip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.”

(Acts 8: vv4 -8, NLT)

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“Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some of the devout men came and buried Stephen with great muring). But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.” (Acts 8: vv. 1-3, NLT)

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“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started a debate with him. ……None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.” (Acts 6: vv 8-9a, 10, NLT)

“”The lying witnesses said, “This man is always speaking agains the holy Temple and against the law of Moses. we have heard him say that the Jesus of Nazareth will destroy the Temple and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

At this point, everyone in the high counsel stared at Stephen, because his face was as bright as an angel’s.”” (Acts 6, vv. 12-15, NLT)

“”You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! Name one prophet your ancestors didn’t persecute! They even killed the ones who predicted the coming of the Righteous One – the Messiah whom you betrayed and murdered. You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from angels.”

The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man is standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.!”

They put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and lad them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord, Jesus , receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, Don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.”” (Acts 7, vv. 51-59, NLT)

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“The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them , even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord – crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostle’s work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed baby evil spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5: vv 12-16, NLT)

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“”So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking Him, “Lord, has the time come for You to free Israel and restore our kingdom? “

He replied, “The father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

After saying this He was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they cold not longer see Him. As they stay strained to see Him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here an staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday He will return from heaven in the same way you saw Him go.”” (Acts 1: vv. 6-11, NLT)

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“”I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me and through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one – as You are in Me, Father, and I am in You. And may they be in Us so that the world will believe You sent Me.

I have given them the glory You gave Me, so they may be One as We are one. I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me. Father, I want these whom You have given Me to be with Me where I am. Then they can see all the glory You gave Me because You love Me even before the world began”

O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know You, but I do; and these disciples know You sent Me. I have revealed You to them, and I will continue to do so. Then Your love for Me will be in them, and I will be in them.”” (John 17: vv 20-26, NLT)

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“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and raised to life gain, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise form their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. There we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18, NLT)

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“So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come close to God and God will come close to you. Wash your hands you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up in honor.”
(James 4: vv. 7-10, NLT)

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“”But now I am going away to the One who sent Me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. and when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness and of the coming judgment. The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.”

“There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever he receives from Me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever comes from Me.”” (John 16: vv. 5-15, NLT)