Acts 8: 1: And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The very day Stephen was stoned was the very day that God determined before for this persecution to begin exactly as it did. Just as the Lord poured out the Holy Spirit...when the day of Pentecost was fully come; just as the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved; just as at that exact moment when Peter at the gate called beautiful, called upon the name of Christ Jesus, reached out, lifted up , and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength; just as the Angel of the Lord--that very night in which the apostles were imprisoned came, opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life; even so at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. Why would anyone consider those good things to be from the Lord's sovereign hand but then say this persecution was not according to his power? Job said, "...shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10.)
If we truly believe God is God then we must understand that the Lord God sealed the future in his pre-determinate council before the world began. He sealed the future in his written word and by the mouth of his prophets. But the Lord did not predict what would come to pass based on our actions. Instead, the Lord determined before, every detail that would happen, exactly how it would happen, and who he would use to bring it to pass. God determined before exactly the best way to work all things together to accomplish all his council, fulfill his purpose of glorying his name and to save a people from their sins for himself.
Lamentations 3:37: Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?
Isaiah 45:7: I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Isaiah 54:16: Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. 17: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
God is absolutely sovereign over all things good or evil. There are no accidents with God. Therefore when we suffer let it be strong consolation that by the same sovereign power he shall preserve those whom he has everlastingly loved.
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LOCATION & TELEPHONE Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor 150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ, 08553 Pastor's Telephone: 615-513-4464
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES Sunday 10 AM Bible Class 11 AM Morning Worship Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service (The first Sunday of each month, morning worship begins at 10am followed by observing the Lord's Table. Afterwards we have lunch together.)
NOTE: For those who might like to visit us without missing their regular services, our mid-week service is on Thursday night and it is a worship service. We welcome you to join us in worship of the Lord our Righteousness.
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