Remember the song, “Stand by me.”

When you are a true believer; you have no condemnation, you are free from the law of sin, you are free from eternal death, sin is condemned in your flesh; the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in you, you have life and peace, you are Spirit filled; your body is dead to sin, our flesh is crucified, and you are working in the Spirit and not after the flesh.

So we owe the flesh nothing. It has no more control of our lives. We must live in the sins of the flesh or we shall die. But if we will put to death the practices of the flesh by the Spirit, we shall live. You have not received a spirit of slavery, but you have received the Spirit of freedom and sonship to break every bondage. And nothing shall separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Evangelism and Joy of persecution

Among the brethren was Philip that preached to the eunuch of Ethiopia. He got saved and was baptized in water. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing; while Philip was caught away (bodily transportation) by the Spirit to another city called Azotus. At this end of time there will be believers that will experience bodily transportation like Philip, just before the soon coming rapture.

Those who shall live righteously in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. If you suffer with Christ ye shall also reign with Him. Persecution is a given part of the suffering believers shall go through one time or another in their life as believers in Jesus the Christ.

Remember the song, “Honey in the Rock.”

But there is a natural and a spiritual Israel. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Neither because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

So it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

And that He might make known the riches of his glory on the vessel of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. The spiritual Israel by faith has Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior,and God.

Paul’s calling

Saul was working hard to please God, so he thought. He did this by persecuting those who were saved by grace; believing that salvation was by the law of Moses and the tradition of the fathers.

But on his way to Damascus to apprehend or arrest any that preached Jesus Christ as Savior, he suddenly shone around him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, “Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me?” Saul said, Who art thou, Lord? And He said, “i am Jesus whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against a prick.” At the end of the talk with Jesus Saul was blind and helpless, but no one can call Jesus Lord but by the Holy Ghost. Saul became Paul, the prosecutor became the persecuted. What is your own testimony of salvation?

Remember the song, “I must tell Jesus.”

The word of life and salvation is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which is preached by faithful believers.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Like Paul wrote, saying, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” For sure whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (Jesus Christ) shall be saved.

By the Cross of Jesus Christ, God made a way for redemption, salvation and eternal life to whosoever would believe all that Jesus Christ said and did while He was in human form of the earth to be a sacrifice for sin.

To confirm it He sent the Holy Ghost on the Gentiles that believed in his word and promises like the centurion Cornelius and his household.

What He did for them He can do to whosoever would believe his word and promises. He will save you and fill you with the Holy Ghost, heal and restore you. God speaks to us by his word, in dreams, in visions, through angels and through his anointed servants. Where do you fit in? Make your calling and election sure.

Rom. 10:17, “So the faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Remember the song, “Only believe.”

The gifts and callings of God are without repentance. For both the Jews and gentiles were concluded in unbelief by God that He might have mercy upon all. For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counselor? Doubt not the leading of the Holy Spirit for that is the Spirit of Truth.

Like in Acts 11:3, “Thou wentest into men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.” This was the comment of the brethren in Jerusalem being ignorant of the visitation Peter had in the house of Cornelius. Be slow to speak and quick to hear.

Peter took time to rehearse the matter and when the disciple heard those things as in Verse 18, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Never doubt what God can do by the moving and action of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth.

Remember the song, “Peace in the valley.”

First, he talked about being sober and let no one think highly of themselves, let each walk according to the measure of faith given to them. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good. Use kindness and brotherly love one towards another. Be not slothful in business; fervent in spirit serving the Lord.

As we see the day approaching we should be rejoicing in hope: patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Always use hospitality towards people. Bless them which persecute you and curse not. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

Safety is of the Lord.

Herod stretched his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also, and put him in prison.

Behold the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote him to wake up because he was fast asleep between two soldiers, bound with two chains.The angel of the Lord smote Peter by the side, and raised him up, saying arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. He escorted him to freedom as the brethren continued in prayers for him. Fear not only believe in God.

Remember the song, “The Great I AM.”

We must be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience’s sake. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear honor to whom honor.

We should abide in love, for love worketh no hurt his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Let us walk honestly, as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Now is the time to wake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light: Jesus the Christ of God and make no room for the lust of the flesh to take us captive.

At Paphos Sergius Paulus invited Paul and Barnabas and desired to hear the word of God. But one Elymas, the sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name also was Bar-jesus, withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy, Sergius from the faith.

Then Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, and said, “O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Sergius the deputy, believed being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region The Gentiles believed and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Remember the song, “Glory to His name.”

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die we die unto the Lord: so whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Paul and Barnabas preached Jesus Christ to them and did not share God’s glory with him, but pointed them to the truth, Jesus the Christ.

Despite the preaching and the miracles, certain Jews came from Antioch and Iconium who persuaded the people and they stone Paul and drew him out of the city leaving him for dead. But when the true believers, the brethren, came and stood around his body, he rose up and came into the city and the next day departed to Derbe with Barnabas.