Insights – Page 46 – Spencer Patrick .com

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
–Acts 17:11 (NKJV)

Many pride themselves of being open minded, but in actuality they are closed and not open to new ideas and concepts that might cramp their lifestyle.

Fair minded people are willing to listen to others and then measure what they say against the true or incorrect. That’s exactly what these Thessalonian people did.

Being fair minded is not a one time thing. It’s a daily thing as life is a daily thing.

At an evening reception one night I met a guy from the U.S. He was very nice and somehow we got talking about God. When asked I told him I am a Jesus Person, I follow Jesus. I said, How about you? He said I can’t be a Jesus person because I’m a homosexual. Jesus doesn’t like homosexuals he said. I responded Jesus loves us all more than you can imagine. Before the subject changed I planted the words, “we all desperately need Jesus.

From our short discussion, I could see he had a preconceived understanding of who Jesus is. He was allowing his sexual situation dictate his eternal future. Although I’m not sure if he was fair minded or not, we are Jesus’ hands and feet so I am confident the words I planted in his life will grow and bear fruit. We’ve all screwed up but only those who recognize their problem can fix their problem.

Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God’s glory. They receive God’s approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free ?from sin?. God showed that Christ is the throne of mercy where God’s approval is given through faith in Christ’s blood. In his patience God waited to deal with sins committed in the past.
–Romans 3:23-25 (GWT)

2015/05/26

Can People See Your Faith?

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.
Act 14:8-10

Faith is visible. When you believe, people can see it.

2015/05/26

The 9 Gifts Of The Holy Spirit For You And I

Word of wisdom (1Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:8; Col. 1:28; 1Cor. 12:1, 7)
Word of knowledge (1Cor. 2:14; 11:6; 12:1, 7; Eph. 3:4; 2Pet. 3:18)
Faith (1Cor. 13:2; 2Cor. 4:13; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:12; 2Tim. 4:7)
Gifts of healing (Acts 14:3, 10; 15:12; 19:11; Rom. 15:18- 29)
Working of miracles (Acts 19:11)
Prophecy (1Cor. 13:2; 14:3; 1Tim. 1:18; 4:14; 2Pet. 3:18)
Discerning of spirits (Acts 13:10; 14:9; 16:18; 1Cor. 13:2)
Tongues (1Cor. 13:1; 14:18)
Interpretation of tongues (1Cor. 14:13- 16

2015/05/252015/06/21

Miracles and Signs Bring People To Jesus

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”
And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
–Acts 13:8-12 (NKJV)

A church without miracles is like a gas station with gas.