Adultery of the Heart, James 4:1-6

 

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

 

Where do wars and fights come from among you?

What wars? What fights? There were lots to choose from back then. And today.

James is not talking about the continuous conflict between Jews and Romans.

Nor is he addressing religious wranglings of the Pharisees and Sadducees.  

We’re not referring to wars against Islamic terrorists, or LGBTQ wickedness, or political fights of the left and right.

What we are looking at is those who sit in the pew. This is about me and you. Christians.

Dear Church, where do wars and fights come from among you?

Context is king, so let’s back up a few verses to a question that kicks off this conversation.

James 3:13-18
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

What we just read is a Divinely inspired description of wisdom from above (verses 13 and 17-18), with, wisdom from below, juxtaposed smack dab in the middle.

If we could paint a picture of what we just read it’d be of Eden.

Created by Wisdom from above, full of good fruits, sown in peace by Him who makes peace.

Smack dab in the middle of the Garden would be the serpent, filled with bitter envy and self-seeking, earthly, sensual, demonic and every evil thing.

With those descriptions of wisdom from above, and below, the Lord makes the answer obvious:

Who is wise and understanding among you?

Answer: Those who have wisdom from above.

And we also know that those who have pure, peaceable, gentle wisdom from above are not where wars and fights come from.

Thus, wars and fights come from those who do not have wisdom from above.

Now, notice the repeated words that describe wisdom from below: envy and self-seeking.

With that in mind consider that in the NKJV, “you” is mentioned fourteen times in the first five verses of today’s text (James 4:1-4). Not as many in the original text, but the envious self-seeking focus is clear.

Where do wars and fights come from among you?

Originally? From Eden, the moment Adam and Eve took that first self-seeking bite.

Now? James tells us to look in the mirror.

Where do wars and fights come from among you?
Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

You lust... the lust of the flesh. If only I had a girl, a guy, a wife, a husband, a relationship, like that. So, you commit adultery with them in your heart.

You murder and covet... the lust of the eyes. You want what’s theirs, the house, the car, the camper, the job, the parking spot. So, you murder them in your heart.

You fight and war... Like a sword your tongue lashes out from a heart of bitter envy.

You do not ask... the pride of life. Pride refuses to admit you need help.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

God is good.

God is a giver.

God is not an enabler.

The guy in the parking lot says “Since I got laid off, times are tough. I just need a little money for diapers and baby food.” 

Without paying attention or praying for discernment we hand him a $20 or so, while God’s saying “No, they ask amiss, they’re just going to blow it beer and cigarettes.”

Asking, praying, is such an extraordinary thing. It’s like a superpower.

Jesus says:

Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 21:22
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

This brings us back to the first question about beautiful, wonderful wisdom from above.

How do we get it?

Ask of God who gives to all...  

But remember, we must not ask amiss.

We must ask, in faith...

James 1:6-7
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

How do we ask in faith?

Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Christos).

Prayer is powerful.

Asking is amazing.

But must not be handled amiss.

We just quoted Matthew 7:7 above.

Ask, and it will be given; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened.

But do you know the verse before it?  

Matthew 7:6
Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Prayer must not be cast about flippantly.

It’s a mighty weapon.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed earnestly, fervently, He even prayed to not ask amiss. Not My will but Thine be done. Luke 22:42.

He told His disciples to pray so that they would not enter into temptation.

What a powerful privilege and responsibility we have in prayer.

How do we ask accurately, pray powerfully, know that we’re not asking, amiss?

Well, our text told us that motives matter. Are we committing adultery of the heart? Why are we asking? Why are we praying? To consume it upon our lust? Are we asking amiss. For beer and cigarettes, instead of baby food and diapers?

Pray what Jesus prayed. “Not My will but Thine.”

As far as asking accurately and praying powerfully, we must invest time with Him until we are each other’s friend.

The kind of friend where you know how they will respond, how they’ll answer, how they’ll feel about any given situation.

Do you have a friend like that? Your spouse?

Jesus wants that, with you.

John 15:15
No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Which brings us to the next verse.

 

⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

We were just talking about the Lord’s desire to be your friend, a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

A friend indeed, even more.

His Bride.

Note: the original text omits “Adulterers and.” It only says, “adulteresses.” Revealing the Lord is not talking about physical adultery but adultery of the heart against Him.

The Church, in His eyes, is His Bride.

Dear family, pay attention.

God is so serious about this that out of 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses, He Divinely timed that we would land in back-to-back services on Scripture focused on this topic. Idols of the Heart, Ezekiel 14:1-11 and Adultery of the Heart, James 4:1-6.

If you scoffed in your heart and said, the preacher’s too melodramatic.

Hurry repent before we read the next verse...

⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

Exodus 20:3-5

FIRST COMMANDMENT: ³ “You shall have no other gods before Me.

SECOND COMMANDMENT: ⁴ “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; ⁵ you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God am a jealous God...

Ezekiel 8:5. Then He said to me, “Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

Hopefully, you’ll never know the pain of your spouse cheating, rejecting, leaving you.

They say that pain and grief is akin to if your spouse dies, but with the added pain of rejection.

That is the kind of pain inflicted on the Lord when we commit spiritual adultery with the world.

Now, if you’re feeling awful because you’ve committed adultery of the heart, or because you just scoffed at the preacher, or you’re afraid you’ve been asking amiss...

Don’t fear. God know how you feel and has great news for you.

⁶ But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble.”

Grace, as opposed to disgrace, is honor.

Not just grace once for Salvation, but more grace, because God knows we need more, daily, for our hearts are desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9).  

God gives grace to the humble for they see their need and are not too proud to ask, and will not ask amiss.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace that is greater than all our sin. Thank You for grace to submit to You, resist the devil, forsake all worldly lust and pleasure. Lord Jesus, we invite You to take Your rightful place on the throne of our heart. We choose You as our Best Friend. Thank You for the honor of being Your Bride. Have Your Way through us, so of all those You’ve given us, none will be lost.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.

 

Idols of the Heart, Ezekiel 14:1-11

 

OUTLINE:

1-3 INTRODUCTION

4-6 CONVICTION

7-10 CONSEQUENCE 

11 CONCILIATION

Ezekiel 14:1-2
Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.  ² And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 

Don’t miss this picture perfect pattern established by the Lord.

Like we go to the Church house, the elders went to Ezekiel’s house, and the Word of the Lord came...

God goes where His people gather

Matthew 18:20. Whenever you gather in My name, I’ll be there.

Hebrews 10:25. Forsake not gathering together.

Psalm 122:1
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”

Acts 2:1-2
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And cowards became courageous

The birthday of the Church

Whenever, wherever, we show up in His name—He shows up.  

That’s the way God is. He loves being with His people. He’s been that way since the beginning with the first couple in the garden. He showed up to walk with them and talk with them. Even when they turned from Him, He came to them with conviction, consequence and a plan for conciliation.

Which is what He does here.  

³ “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?

God loves it when we get together and having Church is important, however, the location of the heart is much more important than the location of the hiney.

The elders showed up, sat in the front row, said “amen” at just the right moment.

Yet God saw through it all. They honored Him with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him. Isaiah 29:13, Matt. 15:8.

They were there for reputation, or obligation, or to appease religious conscience, or perhaps they wanted the prophet to give them an ear tickling blessing.

But God saw their hearts and knew if they had their druthers, they’d be drinking beer and watching football, or whatever other idol suits your fancy. Sleeping in, eating out, garage sale-ing, fishing, golfing, health, news... you name it. Whatever takes your eyes off the Lord and on the world.

Bottom line, they put things before God, and anything put before God is an idol that leads to iniquity.

For that the Lord asks Ezekiel, “Why should I let them ask Me anything?”

CONVICTION
⁴ “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, ⁵ that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.” ’

⁶ “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Repent, turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.

Turn, turn, that’s the same word as in Ezekiel 33:11: “As surely as I live says the Lord, I do not take pleasure in the death of the wicked but that they turn from their wicked ways and live, turn, turn, from your evil ways...”

God is serious about how much He desires repentance and how much He despises idols.

Idols: We’ve already see that word five times in our text. It’s used over thirty-five times in Ezekiel. It’s definition means, detestable; round thing, like a log. Some commentaries claim it implies the idols are detestable round things likened unto dung. The Student Life Application Bible comes right out and says the idols are like “poop”.

God is so concerned about the detestable condition of hearts that He speaks directly, individually, personally, to people, according to the multitude of their idols.

The Lord answers according to what we need to hear, not what we want to hear.

To the rich young ruler Jesus said, “Go sell all you have, give to the poor, and come follow Me.” Matt. 19:21.

But to the man who had been demon possessed and wanted to follow Him, He said: “Go home and tell what great things the Lord has done...” Mark 5:19.

As the Word of the Lord is delivered, He speaks directly, individually, to seize, to convict of idols that have caused separation from Him.

His Word goes out, His Seed is planted, He is asking, He is calling, only you can answer.

The Lord speaks directly to you and waits to hear directly from you.

No one can repent for you.

No one can remove your idols for you.

You must turn from your abominations.

It’s up to you to remove everything between you and Him.

Only you can decide to reject or comply to His command:

Mark 12:30-31
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. ³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

It’s a matter of the heart.

Conviction is like warning signs of a heart attack, seizing the heart to seize the moment of repentance.

Before, the only thing left is...  

CONSEQUENCE
 ⁷ For anyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I the Lord will answer him by Myself. 

⁸ I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

⁹ “And if the prophet is induced to speak anything, I the Lord have induced that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel. ¹⁰ And they shall bear their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet shall be the same as the punishment of the one who inquired, 

Judgement is coming.

Justice is rising.

Justice is blind.

There is no partiality with the Lord.

All who separate themselves from God, by setting up idols where He is supposed to be, will find the Lord against them. No matter who it is. Whether from the house of Israel, or the stranger, or the people inquiring of the prophet, or the prophet who puts pleasing people above God, or any of us.  

God is just. Thus, His Divine Eternal Justice must be served.  

Anything put before God, separating us from God, is an idol that leads to iniquity.

Iniquity is sin.

The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23.

Death is eternal separation from Life.

Jesus says: “I AM the Way, the Truth, the Life, no man comes unto the Father but by Me.” John 14:6.

Those who pass the point of conviction without turning, without repenting, their hearts are seared numb by burning idols. They will be forever cut off from the family of God, the joy of His Presence, the gladness of going to the House of the Lord, the Power and fulness of His Holy Spirit.

None of which gives the Lord pleasure. Ezekiel 33:11.

All of which is against His will. 2 Peter 3:9.

Thus, all of this has been done and recorded for His Divine Hope of...

CONCILIATION
¹¹ that the house of Israel may no longer stray from Me, nor be profaned anymore with all their transgressions, but that they may be My people and I may be their God,” says the Lord God.’ ”

 

Conviction,

Consequence,

Conciliation,

Congratulations! In life, very few make it to this third step.

We all pass through conviction. We all sin. God hates sin. But loves us. So, He sends conviction. His warning signs that consequence is ahead. The bridge is out, turn, turn (repent), or it’s hell to pay.

Few do. Most don’t.

Matthew 7:13-14
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

The bridge was burned a long time ago, in the Garden of Eden.

But God is Love. Love doesn’t quit. So, He made another Way.

The Way is narrow, and difficult, and follows the winding blood stained, tear-filled footprints of One who built another bridge—out of an old rugged cross.

This is what Jesus meant when He took the bread and the wine and said, this is My body broken for you, and My blood, shed for you. Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20.

Jesus who needed no conviction, who deserved no consequence, took it upon Himself, so we, through Him, could be reconciled with Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21.

He became the Bridge from conviction to conciliation.

We still pay natural consequences of sin in this life, but the eternal consequence of hell, for the few, who repent and surrender completely to Christ, has been paid in full. That’s why Jesus cried from the cross: Tetelestai! Which means, Paid in Full!

Let’s pray.

Thank You Lord Jesus for willingly becoming the Bridge, The Passover Lamb, the Way, for us to pass over the eternal consequence of our sin, to Eternal Conciliation with You.

Where we will love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

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Meekness of Wisdom, James 3:13-18

Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

James 1:5-6
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind

Wisdom, the thing Solomon asked for above all.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Who is wise among you?

Those with gray hair? Success? Education? The most letters after their name?

None of those things give wisdom.

James was leader of the Jerusalem Church.

A leader of leaders, among leaders. Jerusalem was full of high nosed, fancy robed, Pharisees and Sadducees... and look at mes.

I’m soooo wise.

Why are you so wise?

Well, I’m a Pharisee, can’t you see? I have degrees, in theology. I can quote the Torah front to back... and back to front.  

Nonsense! Says the Sadducees. Don’t listen to foolish Pharisees. Listen to sage Sadducees, we are truly the wise ones, with the wealth and position and power to prove it. We’re the ones who really fund and run what happens with the temple. Roman soldiers, under our thumb, politicians, in our pocket. (Think Deep State).

That is the environment in which James asked the disciples of Christ to discern who was wise and understanding among them.

They could’ve confused popular, politically correct, earthly wisdom with wisdom from above.

They should’ve been able to tell the difference, but if we sit in an environment too long, we become desensitized. The prodigal son could no longer tell that he smell like a pig. If we sit too long with sin, we no longer see or smell its stench.

Assassin’s bullets fly in a society desensitized to sin.

Who is wise and understanding among you...

Did you know that back in the day, the phrase “wise and understanding” may have been a reference to teachers.

Remember, James started this chapter saying, “Let there be not many teachers among you...” James 3:1.

So, when he asked who is wise and understanding among you? They might’ve heard, who is able to teach among you.

Perhaps, thinking he was offering a teaching position. Many hands may have shot up. “Pick me! Pick me!”

“Okay, wise guys, if you’re wise and understanding, show it...

No prob. You want me to quote the Law of Moses?

No. Nothing like that.

Okay. How about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?

Impressive, but no.

The Beatitudes?

Nope.

Oh, I know, Ol’ Camel Knees, prayer warrior, you want to hear the Lord’s Prayer recited and explained. Right? That’ll certainly show my wisdom.

That’d be nice, but no.

Well then, what?

Show by good conduct with works done in the meekness of wisdom.

Okay. Fine. Umm, what does that mean exactly?

Do the dishes.

Huh?

Wait on tables. Feed the widows. Help the needy. Oh, and do it discreetly, humbly, in the meekness of wisdom, to not bring shame on them or glory to you.

Show your faith by works and your wisdom by shoe leather.

That doesn’t sound like a wise and understanding teacher—it sounds more like a, a, a servant.

Exactly.

Jesus tells us, the greatest among you must be servant of all. The servant is not above his Master. He came not to be served but to serve. Matthew 20:25-28, Mark 10:45, John 13:1-17.

That’s exactly how ministry training began for me. Serving.

Many start that way.

All should.

Not only start that way but stay that way, all the way to the end.

Before my first preaching position as a youth pastor (no pay by the way) I was a janitor.

No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing. Most didn’t even notice I was doing it. Jesus knew and let me know.

How?

Early one Sunday morning long before the service, I was vacuuming floors, straightening chairs, praying for the preacher and the people like usual. But on that particular morning I just so happened to pray specifically for His Presence to saturate the atmosphere.

I finished up, locked up, went home to get cleaned up and return for Church.

Kit Johnson, our praise and worship leader, started the service. I’ll never forget how his face lit up when he told how that very morning when he unlocked the door and stepped inside, boom, he felt the Lord’s Presence already there saturating the atmosphere.

Only me and Jesus knew about that prayer. Perhaps, in that moment, He smiled. I sure did.

He wants you to know, He sees you, and what you do for Him does not go unnoticed. Well done.

Okay, so James says if you’re wise and understanding don’t talk about it, show it by works saturated in the meekness of wisdom.

Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, through James, prepared us to understand the meaning of the meekness of wisdom, when he said: “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.” James 3:3.

He was talking about taming the tongue, while painting a picture of Biblical meekness.

Meekness: Strength under control.

Meekness: one of the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:23.

Meekness of Wisdom: 

Controlled Strength of Wisdom.

Horse & Owl by Sevenroses

Examples of the meekness of wisdom, Acts 6-8, Stephen and Philip.

Stephen got stoned. Philip became Billy Graham.

The early Church was growing fast. Lots of needs. Folks to feed, spiritually and physically.

There’s only so much time in a day, they needed help, so they choose seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, to handle the ministry of feeding the needy. Acts 6:3-4.

Stephen and Philip are the first two on the list.

They were wise and understanding, willing and able, to show by good conduct their works in the meekness of wisdom.

So, they got busy. Waiting tables. Feeding widows. Helping the needy. Oh, and doing it discreetly, humbly, in the meekness of wisdom.

No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing. Most didn’t even notice they were doing it. Jesus knew and let them know.

Stephen was more than a waiter, full of faith and power and the Lord worked through him mightily.

But whenever God is on the move the serpent rattles.

Some with earthly wisdom tried to debate Stephen, but they were unable to resist the wisdom and Spirit by which he spoke. Acts 6:10.

They were as successful as those who tried to debate Charlie Kirk.

So, they did what they did to Charlie. What the devil’s folks do, lie, cheat, steal, kill, destroy...

They falsely accused Stephen, stirred up the mob against him, compelled corrupt leaders to arrest him. Acts 6:9-14.

When Stephen stood before the crooked council, they looked and saw his face lit up as the face of an angel. Acts 6:15.

Then, Stephen delivered the longest sermon in all of Acts, the HIStory of Israel from Abraham to killing Jesus.

Then, when he was done, he looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus giving him a standing ovation, letting him know, I see you, Stephen, all you’ve done for Me has not gone unnoticed, well done.

Then, Stephen said, “Look I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

The mob couldn’t take it. They dragged him out of the city for stoning.

While the stones were pummeling, Stephen was praying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then, with Strength under control, that must’ve made the stoners shutter, he knelt and said with a loud voice for all stone throwers to hear, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”

In that meekness of wisdom, he laid down and fell asleep. Acts 7:60.

The spotlight shifts to Philip.

After that great persecution broke out against the Church and they were scattered.  

Scattered, not silenced. They went everywhere preaching the Word.

In the meekness of wisdom, Philip went where most Jews avoid. The despised Samaritans in the village of Samaria. Acts 8:5.

Jesus didn’t despise them and as Philip preached to them, the Lord confirmed His Word through him, with healings and miracles, and deliverances from demons.

Peter and John showed up and the Holy Spirit too, saturating the city with the joy of the Lord.

It was awesome.

But then, the Lord told Philip to get up and go. Leave the joy filled revival and take the lonely dusty desert road toward Gaza.

Philip heard the still small voice of the Lord over the call of the congregation and in the meekness of wisdom, he got up and went.

And lo and behold there just so happened to be on the road in a chariot an Ethiopian of great authority.

The Lord said, “Go near the chariot.”

So, he went.

The man just happened to be reading Scripture.

“Do you understand what you’re reading?”

“How can I unless someone explain it.”

He invited Philip into the chariot.

The place he just happened to be reading was the most awesome, powerful picture of the meekness of wisdom—the Controlled Strength of Wisdom.  

Isaiah 53:7-8
“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
³³ In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
And who will declare His generation?
For His life is taken from the earth.”

From that Scripture Philip preached Jesus.

Then, they just happened to be passing by water and the Ethiopian asked, “What hinders me from being baptized?” Acts 8:36.

“If you believe with all your heart, you may.”

“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God!”

So, Philip baptized him.

No pay. No title. No spotlight. It just needed doing. Most didn’t even notice he was doing it. Jesus knew and let him know.

As Philip raised up the man from the water, the Lord caught up Philip, transporting him some 25 miles away. Acts 8:39.

The Ethiopian went his way praising the Lord. That Seed planted in the middle of nowhere, was perhaps the Seed that birthed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the continent of Africa.

Philip went on his way preaching from city to city, like Billy Graham, the evangelist. Acts 8:40, 21:8.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, in the faith just deposited in our souls from hearing Your Word, we ask for Your wisdom. That we may be wise and understanding among all those You’ve given us, so in the meekness of wisdom we lead many to You.

Thank You.

We trust and love You, forever.

Amen.

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This was feed for you to read. Now it’s Seed for you to sow.

Thank you for sharing.