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FALSE PROPHET … THE MIRACULOUS / REVELATION 19:20

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Revelation 19:20

And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

FALSE PROPHET … THE MIRACULOUS / REVELATION 19:20

John again describes the false prophet by one primary characteristic: he deceived many by performing miraculous signs (Revelation 13:13-15; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10). Since Satan can only imitate the genuine things of God, these miracles will be full of lies and deception, just as in all that Satan does (John 8:44). In the last days, those who desire to remain faithful to Christ and His Word (Revelation 14:12) must not base their perception and evaluation of truth and reality solely on the appearance of success or miracles. The Lord Himself warns: “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – it that were possible” (Matthew 24:24).

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. THE LAMB OPENED / REVELATION 6:1
  2. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
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Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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SUFFER FOR MY NAME / ACTS 9:15-16

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(KJV) Acts 9:15-16

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

SUFFER FOR MY NAME / ACTS 9:15-16

Saul’s (Paul’s) spiritual transformation not only involved a commission to preach the message of Christ, but also a call to suffer for the cause of Christ. In Christ’s kingdom, suffering for His sake is a sign of God’s highest favor (Acts 14:22; Matthew 5:11-12; Romans 8:17; 2 Timothy 2:12). It is often the way to a truly fruitful and effective ministry (John 12:24; 2 Corinthians 1:3-6), and it results in great reward in heaven (Matthew 5:12; 2 Timothy 2:12). A follower of Christ must experience this process of “dying to self” (rejecting and becoming unresponsive to sin and selfish desires) on a daily basis (Romans 6:2-11; 8:10-14; 1 Corinthians 15:31). “Dying to self” allows believers to experience God’s life flowing through them, bringing God’s love and salvation to others (Romans 8:17-18, 36-37; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). 

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THEY BELIEVED … THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST / ACTS 8:12

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(KJV) Acts 8:12

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

THEY BELIEVED … THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST / ACTS 8:12

The Samaritans had fully met the conditions for receiving spiritual salvation and were Christians before the Spirit came upon them.

  1. They “believed” and were “baptized” (Acts 2:38). Two facts make it clear that the faith of the Samaritans was genuine saving faith (the kind that gave them a legitimate personal relationship with God).
  2. Both Philip (Acts 8:12) and the apostles (Acts 8:14; 14:4) considered the Samaritans’ faith to be valid.
  3. The Samaritans publicly acknowledged their commitment to Christ by water baptism. Scripture affirms that “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). The baptism did not save them, but it was a means of identifying with Jesus (Romans 6:4) and publicly testifying to their faith in Christ. As a result of that faith, they had been spiritually “born again” (John 3:3-6) and had the Holy spirit living within them (Romans 8:9).
  4. Their receiving the Holy Spirit several days later (Acts 8:17) was not for salvation. It was rather a receiving of the Spirit as the disciples did at Pentecost, to equip them with power to serve Christ and spread His message (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4). Luke uses the term “receive the Spirit” mainly in an empowering sense (Acts1:8; Acts 2:38; Acts 8:17; Acts 10:47; Acts 19:2), not in the sense of spiritual salvation.
  5. Some have taught that the Samaritans’ faith was not a spiritually saving and renewing faith (the kind that brought them into a personal relationship with Christ). However, it is unreasonable to believe that Philip, a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom (Acts 6:3-5), would baptize, heal, and command demons to come out of people whose faith he thought was not genuine.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. WHEN THEY HEARD THIS / ACTS 11:18
  2. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM / ACTS 19:6
  3. SPEAKING IN TONGUES / ACTS 10:46
  4. GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM / ACTS 10:34
  5. THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 8:17
  6. HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16
  7. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 4:31
  8. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 2:4
  9. THEY WERE BAPTIZED / ACTS 19:15
  10. THIS CORRUPT GENERATION / ACTS 2:40
  11. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED / ACTS 2:38
  12. FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL / ACTS 2:39
  13. WORSHIPING … AND FASTING / ACTS 13:2
  14. KEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM PREACHING / ACTS 16:6
  15. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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WHEN THEY HEARD THIS / ACTS 11:18

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(KJV) Acts 11:18

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

WHEN THEY HEARD THIS / ACTS 11:18

Peter’s speech silenced all objection (Acts 11:4-18). God had baptized the Gentiles (people of other nationalities who were not Jewish) in the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:45) with the convincing evidence of speaking in tongues (Acts 10:46). This was the only sign they needed to accept the Gentiles’ experience as authentic and real without a doubt.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM / ACTS 19:6
  2. SPEAKING IN TONGUES / ACTS 10:46
  3. GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM / ACTS 10:34
  4. THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 8:17
  5. HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16
  6. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 4:31
  7. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 2:4
  8. THEY WERE BAPTIZED / ACTS 19:15
  9. THIS CORRUPT GENERATION / ACTS 2:40
  10. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED / ACTS 2:38
  11. FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL / ACTS 2:39
  12. WORSHIPING … AND FASTING / ACTS 13:2
  13. KEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM PREACHING / ACTS 16:6
  14. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM / ACTS 19:6

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DEVOTION

(KJV) Acts 19:6

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME ON THEM / ACTS 19:6

This event occurs about 25 years after the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (when God generously sent His Spirit to fill and empower His followers, Acts 2:4). Yet, the pattern of these twelve people receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit is consistent with the pattern seen throughout the book of Acts (Acts 8:5-24).

  1. They had believed in Jesus and were born again by the Spirit (they had been spiritually renewed or “saved” and entered a personal relationship with Jesus).
  2. After they were baptized in water (Acts 19:5), Paul laid his hands on them, and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
  3. As the Holy Spirit came on them, they began speaking in tongues and prophesying (using their voice to honor God by inspiration of the Holy Spirit). The book of Acts never presents the outpouring of the Spirit without any outward evidence. Rather, it shows it to be an obvious and identifiable experience that could be verified by the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues. This practice is a Holy Spirit-inspired way of speaking, praying, or praising God by which a Christian speaks in a language (Greek glossa) they have never learned (Acts 2:4; 1 Corinthians 14:14-15).

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. SPEAKING IN TONGUES / ACTS 10:46
  2. GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM / ACTS 10:34
  3. THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 8:17
  4. HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16
  5. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 4:31
  6. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 2:4
  7. THEY WERE BAPTIZED / ACTS 19:15
  8. THIS CORRUPT GENERATION / ACTS 2:40
  9. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED / ACTS 2:38
  10. FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL / ACTS 2:39
  11. WORSHIPING … AND FASTING / ACTS 13:2
  12. KEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM PREACHING / ACTS 16:6
  13. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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SPEAKING IN TONGUES / ACTS 10:46

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DEVOTION

Acts 10:46
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

SPEAKING IN TONGUES / ACTS 10:46

Peter and those with him considered speaking in unlearned languages, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, to be the convincing sign of the baptism in the Spirit. Just as God confirmed His actions at Pentecost by the sign of tongues (Acts 2:4), He causes the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house to speak in tongues as a convincing sign to Peter and the other Jewish believers.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM / ACTS 10:34
  2. THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 8:17
  3. HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16
  4. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 4:31
  5. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 2:4
  6. THEY WERE BAPTIZED / ACTS 19:15
  7. THIS CORRUPT GENERATION / ACTS 2:40
  8. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED / ACTS 2:38
  9. FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL / ACTS 2:39
  10. WORSHIPING … AND FASTING / ACTS 13:2
  11. KEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM PREACHING / ACTS 16:6
  12. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
Thank you for taking the time to read my article.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM / ACTS 10:34

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Acts 10:34
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

GOD DOES NOT SHOW FAVORITISM / ACTS 10:34

God has no favorite nation or race, nor does He favor any individual because of nationality, birth, or position in life (James 2:1). God favors and accepts those from every nation and people group who turn from their own sinful ways, accept God’s forgiveness, yield their lives to Christ, and obediently follow His purposes for their (Acts 10:35; Romans 2:6-11). All who continue to live by this commitment will continue to experience God’s love and favor (John 15:10).

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 8:17
  2. HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16
  3. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 4:31
  4. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 2:4
  5. THEY WERE BAPTIZED / ACTS 19:15
  6. THIS CORRUPT GENERATION / ACTS 2:40
  7. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED / ACTS 2:38
  8. FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL / ACTS 2:39
  9. WORSHIPING … AND FASTING / ACTS 13:2
  10. KEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM PREACHING / ACTS 16:6
  11. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
Thank you for taking the time to read my article.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 8:17

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(KJV) Acts 8:17
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 8:17

Through the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6), the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit in the same sense as the baptism in the Spirit that occurred at Pentecost (Acts 1:8; Acts 2:4).

  1. The Samaritans’ “two-stage” experience – first believing, and then being filled with the Spirit – shows that the “two-stage” experience of Christ’s followers at Pentecost was not abnormal. The experiences of both Paul in Acts 9:5-17 and the Ephesian disciples in Acts 19:1-6 were the same as the Samaritans. They accepted Christ as Savior and Lord (the Forgiver of their sins and Leader of their lives) and afterwards were filled with (baptized in) the Spirit. There is no set time between saving faith and baptism in the Spirit; it does not need to be long, as was shown with the Christians at Caesarea (Acts 10).

Baptism in the Holy Spirit does not save us. The necessary steps for salvation are repenting (admitting and turning from our own sinful way and toward God in faith) and yielding one’s life to Christ. But just as baptism in water is an outward testimony of what has taken place inwardly through salvation (Romans 6:4), so baptism in the Spirit provides outward evidence of the Spirit’s powerful presence flowing through a believer’s life. God’s Spirit already lives within and directs Christians’ lives from the point of salvation (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19). Yet, baptism in the Spirit is vital for experiencing God’s full power and purpose for their lives. In a sense, salvation puts the Holy Spirit into people, and being “filled with the Spirit” helps bring the Spirit out through them in powerful ways (Acts 2:37-39; 4:31).

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16
  2. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 4:31
  3. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 2:4
  4. THEY WERE BAPTIZED / ACTS 19:15
  5. THIS CORRUPT GENERATION / ACTS 2:40
  6. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED / ACTS 2:38
  7. FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL / ACTS 2:39
  8. WORSHIPING … AND FASTING / ACTS 13:2
  9. KEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM PREACHING / ACTS 16:6
  10. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
Thank you for taking the time to read my article.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16

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(KJV) Acts 8:15-16
Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

HAD NOT YET COME UPON ANY OF THEM / ACTS 8:15-16

They had not yet experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in the same way Christ’s followers did on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). The Spirit had not yet “come upon” them, and they had not yet received the gift of the Spirit as God the Father had promised (Acts 1:4) and as Christ had foretold when He said, “You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5). Evidently, they had not shown the expected spiritual signs or expressions that typically went along with the baptism in the Spirit (Acts 8:5-24).

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 4:31
  2. FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / ACTS 2:4
  3. THEY WERE BAPTIZED / ACTS 19:15
  4. THIS CORRUPT GENERATION / ACTS 2:40
  5. REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED / ACTS 2:38
  6. FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AND FOR ALL / ACTS 2:39
  7. WORSHIPING … AND FASTING / ACTS 13:2
  8. KEPT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM PREACHING / ACTS 16:6
  9. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

Thank you for taking the time to read my article.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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JULY 4th PRAYER

WISING YOU A WARM AND HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Make this 4th of July memorable by counting your blessings and truly appreciating our FREEDOM.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

  1. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME
Thank you for taking the time to read my article.
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace
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