Category: Blog

The Holy Spirit Has Power to See Through The Heart!

Reading: Acts 8:1- 25,

Key verse: “Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.” Acts 8:22 (NKJV)

Persecution against the followers of Jesus continued and increased especially after the death of Stephen (Acts 8:1-3). Many of Jesus’ followers were scattered and went everywhere preaching the Gospel (Acts 8:4). Philip, one of the disciples, went to Samaria. With signs, wonders, and miracles many heard and received the Word of God preached by Philip. Many were delivered from unclean spirits. One of them was a man named Simon. In his past life, Simon practiced sorcery and had astounded many people. He became famous and misled many people into thinking he had special powers from God. When Simon saw many people turn to God through the words of Philip, he along with others believed and were baptized (Acts 8:9-13). Then Peter and John came to the city to visit Philip and the new believers. Simon saw that through the prayers and laying on of hands by Peter and John, many were baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17). Simon asked for this same ability and offered the apostles money to receive the power to impart the Holy Spirit to others (Acts 8:18-19).

Peter admonished Simon that this gift of God is not bought with money (Acts 8:20).

Then Peter, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, exposed the heart of Simon, the former sorcerer.

“You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”            Acts 8:21-23 (NKJV)

Simon the former sorcerer who tricked many people with his magic, received and believed the Word of God that Philip preached. Simon even got baptized. However, his heart was still not completely changed. Peter, John, and Philip were just like us, mere human beings. They had no power to see into the hearts of men nor the ability to read someone’s mind. However, through the power of the Holy Spirit, it was revealed to them what was going on inside Simon’s heart and mind.

Reflection:

Only the Lord God and His Holy Spirit know the thoughts and hearts of every person.

“I the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways.” Jeremiah 17:10 (NKJV)

Sometimes, there are situations when the Holy Spirit reveals the intents of the heart and thoughts of someone to a follower of Jesus for a specific purpose. It’s not to embarrass nor to humiliate a person. It’s to help the person to repent and truly believe in God’s power, mercy, and forgiveness. When Peter encouraged Simon to repent, Simon said,

“Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” Acts 8:24 (NKJV)

Thought for the Day:

The Holy Spirit has the power to give a follower of Jesus to see through the hearts of people to encourage or give them admonition.    

Prayer:

Holy Spirit I open my heart to You. Search me and know my heart; see if there is any wicked way in me.  Please forgive me of anything that is not pleasing to our Father God. Help me also be open to others encouragement and admonition. In Jesus name I pray, amen!

Your Thoughts:

Your Prayer:

“The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

For our first 2 months in southeast Asia, we have some first experiences such as traditional wedding, visiting a family who delivered a healthy baby girl, funeral visitation,
(mentioned in a previous blog).  David also got his first haircut and dental work. I also got my first dental cleaning done a few weeks ago. These may seem trivial for many, but for us, it takes some courage and faith to do these things as we are still learning the language and navigating the city. We thank the Lord for His peace and for blessing us with local people who have good English. In addition, we are also taking our first language learning together on weekends. Last but not the least, on April 27^th, we celebrated our 9^th year wedding anniversary by joining our radio station staff visiting listeners in some villages in another provinces. Again, our first time to visit our radio listeners. It was a joy to meet them in person who faithfully listen to our radio program. Here are some photos to share:

Khmer Wedding

We praise and thank the Lord for His grace to serve Him with faithful and diligent workers of FEBC Cambodia. We also thank Him for our faithful ministry partners.

³ In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
    in the morning I lay my requests before you
    and wait expectantly. “

Psalm 5:3 (NKJV)

A week after we arrived in Phnom Penh, we sent our application for visa extensions to the government immigration officials (through an agency). We were told the process might take up to 14 days. After more than 20 days, we still had not received the important documents. David and I prayed earnestly, and one morning last week, during my morning time with the Lord, I felt He encouraged me from His words in Psalm 5:3. The same day, late in the afternoon just before we left the office, I was surprised when a staff member called and handed us our passports with new visas. We praise and thank the Lord for answering our prayers!

We also thank our Lord for the little ways He encourages us through His creation. In a bustling city of people, cars, tall buildings, construction, etc., sometimes it is a challenge to see the beauty of His creation. However, every now and then we get to see glimpses of the blue sky on a clear day, and some fluffy white clouds. Sometimes at night, on the roof of our apartment building, we get to see a little bit of twinkling stars and moonlight even amid the city lights.

Early one morning last week, it was a blessing to see the colorful sunrise over the horizon of the city landscape, shown in the photo above.

A Wedding Invitation and a Funeral

One day last week, our tuk-tuk driver gave us an invitation for the upcoming wedding of his daughter at the end of the month. Though we have not yet met his daughter, we are looking forward to going to this special event as this will be our first wedding to experience in the local culture. We also want to express appreciation to our faithful driver.

The same day, we found out the father of one of our staff members recently passed away. From the director, we received a note that all staff members were going to the funeral visitation. We all traveled together, about 20 people in 3 vehicles with a big funeral flower wreath arrangement in the back of the truck. David and I had no clue where we would be going. They said, it would be in a province outside the city. It took about two hours to travel 40 miles through the city traffic and on country dirt roads. On the road, we saw some local houses and huts made of wood. There were a lot of mango trees loaded with a lot of fruit, since this is the best season for mangos. We saw palm trees loaded with coconuts and other tropical trees. We also saw some cows freely walking on the road. It was nice to see some small ponds, little hills, and farming fields. We also noticed several Buddhist temples and pagodas. It was nice to be outside the city and catch some fresh air in the country.

Cambodia has two seasons, dry and wet. It is towards the end of the dry season. In a month or so, the rainy season will arrive. Some of the land looked parched and brown. Surely, most of the creatures of the land are waiting for the much-needed rain.

After having experienced cold winter weather just a couple of months ago, David and I have been trying to adjust to the hot weather. Most days, it’s been around 99 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. We were told rainy season comes in May or June. It’s been dry and hot, so we have been praying for some rain. Last Saturday night, the Lord answered our prayer. We were surprised to see a good bit of rain, coupled with thunder and lightning. Thank you, Lord, for answered prayer!

When we arrived in the small village where the funeral was to take place, we saw many people already waiting in an old church building. After greeting the family, we were seated, and the funeral service began. Some local church leaders spoke giving their last tributes and paying respect to the man of God who passed away. The father of our staff was a well-known church leader and evangelist. Through translation from one of our staff, we understood a little bit of the message from the main preacher. He spoke and encouraged the family, friends, and relatives by sharing from the Word of God. Here is an excerpt from the Bible verses he quoted:

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. ¹⁴ For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. ¹⁵ According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

After the long ceremony, we were invited to a community meal. We enjoyed the visit even though it was a sad occasion. We were grateful to be there to comfort the family of this man of God who is now in heaven enjoying his great reward as a servant of the Lord.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him,  and  bless His name. Psalm 100:4

Each day during our prayer time we give thanks and praise to our Lord for the simple blessings of life. We thank the Lord for such blessings as clean water, electricity, a roof over our head, warm clothes, food, etc.

Clean water.  In many places around the world people must walk a mile or so to a stream or river just to get a bucket of water. When they get home, they must boil the water or filter it, and then store it in a safe place. So, we are thankful that we have clean water right in our home.

Electricity, internet, and modern technology. We thank the Lord for electricity that enables us to cook our meals conveniently. In some places, people must gather firewood or tree branches, cut them, and then make a fire to cook. A few years ago, Vicki served in a children’s home in South America. Every day the cook and a couple of volunteers would get up at 4:00 or 5:00 am to get some firewood. They would then place the firewood on three big stones to make a stove, then light the firewood to cook a meal. The previous day some young men had to gather wood and cut them into pieces for firewood. They only had 2 hours of electricity in the morning and evening using a generator. So, we thank the Lord for electricity that helps us cook and keeps our appliances, air conditioner  and heater running. With electricity and the internet, we can work from home and be connected to the world.

Clean air to breathe. In one of the countries we visited in Asia a couple of years ago, they had  very cold winters. During our visit, the temperature ranged from -15 to +25 F degrees! The power company for the city burned really dirty coal to supply electricity and heating to homes and buildings which produced a lot of air pollution. We learned to appreciate and thank the Lord for the clean air we breathe.

The beauty of nature.  Did you ever stop to think that God could have made the world very utilitarian? Instead, he created this world with beauty – beauty that reminds us of our Creator God. Take a few moments today to enjoy a beautiful sunset, a walk in the woods, or a look up into the night sky!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever. (Psalm 118:1)

Religious and political freedom. In many parts of the world, Christians risk their lives just to attend a church fellowship. We thank the Lord for the freedom we still have in this country to practice religion and be part of a church.

We are also thankful that the Constitution provides citizens freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, freedom to elect leaders, etc. And we are thankful for those men and women who fought for our country through the years to preserve those rights. In many parts of the world, people do not have political freedom and the opportunity to elect their leaders, something that we often take for granted.

Families and friends. We thank the Lord for the love and care of our extended families and  friends.  We are also thankful for the prayers and support of our ministry partners.

Spiritual heritage.  We are thankful to the Lord for the faithfulness of those who have “gone before” us, for those saints of God who walked faithfully with God through the years and provided us with a godly example and a spiritual heritage. History is full of men and women who lived out their faith, sometimes risking their very lives to preserve our spiritual heritage.  And of course in this Thanksgiving season, we remember the faith of our founding fathers in the United States who prayed earnestly for God’s blessing as this nation was formed.*

Spiritual blessings. We are especially thankful for the love and mercy of God, the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8), the forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, the hope of eternal life, a home in heaven, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and other spiritual blessings. (See Ephesians 1:3-6). We are very thankful for the gift of salvation! There are still 3 billion people in the world who need to know the Gospel and the love of God.

The Written Word. We thank the Lord for the availability of the Bible in our language. In Bible history, some sacrificed their very lives to have the Bible translated into our language. Many people are still waiting to hear the Gospel in their native tongue.  Currently, at least 2,000 languages around the world are still waiting for a Bible translation project to start.

Each day, if we pause and look around, we have so much for which to be thankful – not just on Thanksgiving Day! We are grateful also for the gift of life – each day is a gift from God.

“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. (II Peter 1:3)

History of First Thanksgiving

“In September 1620, a small ship called the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers—an assortment of religious separatists seeking a new home where they could freely practice their faith…

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims’ first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony’s Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as American’s “first Thanksgiving”—although the Pilgrims themselves may not have used the term at the time—the festival lasted for three days…”

https://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving/history-of-thanksgiving

*Mayflower Pilgrims – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment – Hebrews 9:27

We only live once, here is a short devotional story of a woman who had a life well-lived. The Bible says in Psalm 90:10,12- “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away…So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Scripture Reading: Psalm 92:12-15

“They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing…”  Psalm 92:14 NKJV

I met “Jane” a few years ago at my husband’s church, just before we were married. Jane looked small and fragile, but always had a radiant smile, a sweet disposition, and kind words. She made me feel comfortable and welcome even though I was a total stranger. On holidays and wedding anniversaries, she sent me and my husband greeting cards. When my husband was away on mission trips, Jane would often ask how I was doing. She would often encourage me with these words, “I am praying for you and your husband.” Every Sunday, before the worship service started, she prayed with our pastor and anointed her with oil.

On one occasion, Jane invited me and two other ladies to meet her at church to learn how to make hats using a loom. She was making the hats for cancer patients. She also knitted prayer shawls for others who were ill. Whenever she could, she would send me colorful yarns to make the knitted hats.

During those days, Jane and her husband were both struggling with some significant health issues. At the same time, she was also busy with her own children and grandchildren. Although I only got to know Jane in the last 3 years of her life, she was an inspiration to me and left a profound impression on my life – a wonderful example of faith, love, and prayer. I had clearly seen in her life what it meant to be a true follower of Christ. She faithfully demonstrated the love of Jesus Christ to her family, friends, and to all who met her. Her life has often reminded me of these words from Scripture, “They shall still bear fruit in old age, they shall be fresh and flourishing to declare that the Lord is upright;” (Psalm 92:14-15). I miss Jane’s smiling face, but I know she is now enjoying her heavenly reward with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, as we journey through life, help us through the power of Your Holy Spirit to reflect Your love and faithfulness to others for Your glory and praise.

God loves you!

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Romans 10:9 (NIV)If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the ^[remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 Acts 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.

Prayer to receive Jesus in your heart:

Dear God, thank You for your love for me and for sending Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus for dying on the cross for my sin. I believe that God raised you up from the dead. Please forgive my sins.  I open my heart, may you come in and be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

If you pray the prayer above, you are now a child of God and forgiven because of Jesus Christ! What to do next?

1. Read the Bible every day.
2. Look for a good Bible believing Christian church.
3. Pray to Jesus always.

 

God loves you!

John 3:16-17 (NKJV)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Romans 10:9 (NIV)If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the ^[remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

 Acts 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.

Prayer to receive Jesus in your heart:

Dear God, thank You for your love for me and for sending Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus for dying on the cross for my sin. I believe that God raised you up from the dead. Please forgive my sins.  I open my heart, may you come in and be the Lord of my life. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

If you pray the prayer above, you are now a child of God and forgiven because of Jesus Christ! What to do next?

1. Read the Bible every day.
2. Look for a good Bible believing Christian church.
3. Pray to Jesus always.

 Bible gateway.com