Posts Tagged ‘Acts’

Proverbs 17:3 and 27:21 reveal an interesting truth about God’s methods of testing our character. Paul refers to the same testing concept in 1 Corinthians 3:12-13.

“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart.” (NIV)

“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” (NIV)

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it its, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.” (NIV)

Luke provides a couple examples of men being tested by praise in the book of Acts.

In chapter 12, Herod is giving an oration and the crowd begins to shout, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”  “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.” Herod failed the test of the praise he received.

Then in chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas were ministering at Lystra and through the process, a man that had been crippled from birth was healed. The crowds lifted up their voices saying, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” They called Barnabas, Zeus, and they called Paul, Hermes. When Paul and Barnabas determined what was being said, “they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, ‘Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them…” Paul and Barnabas restrained them from offering sacrifice to them; Paul and Barnabas passed the test of the praise they received.

We may not have people proclaiming that we are gods, but when we receive praise, who gets the glory?

Pastor Steve completed his sermon today with a plea for all of us to do two things: be available to do God’s work, and come back next week to hear part two of the lesson from Acts 9. The LORD has ways of informing His people regarding the tasks He has prepared for them. If you have received the gift of salvation, He has a plan prepared for you.

 “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

 Can we pray, “Sovereign LORD, we are available; available to do your will; available to participate in the good works which you have prepared for us.” Listen to the leading of the LORD today, this week, and always.

 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)

As Pastor Steve shared God’s Holy Word from Acts 8 today, I was impressed with how much God cares about our “Heart Attitudes.” Simon the Sorcerer (magician) received a rebuke from Peter “because your (Simon’s) heart is not right before God.”  The Ethiopian eunuch clearly was seeking after God; this seemed to result in Philip being instructed to minister to him individually. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us.

Do we have a heart that seeks after God without reservation or are we seeking to be seen by men (like Simon the magician)?  “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)