The upright who live by faith have seen the light and walk in the light.
Psalms 112:4 KJV Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
Habakkuk 2:4 KJV Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
John 8:12 KJV Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
All rulers are appointed by God, either to bring blessing or judgment upon a people. It is futile to resist rulers disrespectfully, regardless of their treatment toward us. However, this does not mean we compromise on the truth of God's Word. We are called to contend for the faith and proclaim God's Word to all, regardless of their position or potential offense. As for God's judgment, consider Paul's transformation from whited wall to saint: once a persecutor of Christians, he was shown mercy by God. Such were some of us.
Acts 23:1 KJV And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.
Acts 23:2 KJV And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.
Acts 23:3 KJV Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?
Acts 23:4 KJV And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest?
Acts 23:5 KJV Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.
When discussing the Jews, we must always differentiate between certain Jews and the Remnant Jews in Christ. Make no mistake, the former are killers.
Acts 23:12 KJV And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together, and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
A chief captain of Rome was a true nationalist, understanding what it meant to put Rome first rather than Israel first. As for 'America First' politicians, this is mostly words rather than deeds. Therefore, Paul would not have stood a chance outside of the miraculous intervention of God.
Acts 23:27 KJV This man was taken of the Jews, and should have been killed of them: then came I with an army, and rescued him, having understood that he was a Roman.
Those who regularly pray 'Hallowed be Thy name' alongside a life hallowed to God know what they have been delivered from. They are the children of Israel (Christ).
Leviticus 22:32 KJV Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,
Leviticus 22:33 KJV That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.
Gospilled Minute #131
Not all of Israel is the Israel of God; rather, it is the remnant, the few gleaning grapes.
Isaiah 17:6 KJV Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.
Isaiah 17:7 KJV At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
The harvest of God's people is not without sorrow, but is sure and firm as the rock of our strength, which is not Peter. Peter knew who the Rock was and where his strength existed – with the God of his salvation.
Isaiah 17:10 KJV Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips:
Isaiah 17:11 KJV In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow.
Though the world may be against us, it is nothing compared to God being for us.
Isaiah 17:12 KJV Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!
Isaiah 17:13 KJV The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.
Isaiah 17:14 KJV And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.
Father, thank You for the Light of Christ. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
