Interactive Devotional

[IKTCA]

My dear brother Chris,
It is so good to hear from you again. Please send me a line and share with me how the Lord has been merciful to you.

Rupert

 

[IKTCA]

The disciples had the seven stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:6)

Hebrews says that laying on of hands is a basic teaching.

Let us go on to perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ…..laying on of hands, resurrection of dead…. (Hebrews 6:1-2)

But I still don’t understand laying on of hands well. What was so basic to the first church disciples is confounding to me. I have seen it before and am seeing it done among believers, still I don’t understand. I have done it myself, and asked my brothers to lay their hands on me, still I don’t understand.

According to Acts, when a man of God lays hands on believers, the Spirit of God falls on them and great wonders take place. When the twelve apostles laid their hands on the seven (Stephen, Philip, and 5 others), something wonderful must have happened to them. Second Timothy sheds some light into the wonders (2 Timothy 1:7) but not in detail.

Father,
What were the wonders? What wonders are to take place HERE and TODAY? What wonders am I missing? I so anxiously want to know. No, Father. I so anxiously want to see them happen among us.

Why didn’t you have the recorder write down what happened after it? Ending the event with “Apostles laid hands on them” is so abrupt to me. It only adds to my frustration.

Father,
Have mercy on me and satisfy my eyes. What I haven’t see I cannot understand. Let my eyes see what the first church disciples saw, so that I, too, can leave behind this basic teaching and move on to perfection. Help me and my brothers, Father. Amen.

 

[Greenthumb]

iktca, I just wanted to thank you for sharing here in this thread. You raise many questions that I would like to think about some more. I will definitely return and read your posts again. And maybe in time God will give me some answers. I pray that God will bless you and give you understanding as well.

 

[IKTCA]

Sister G.

By all means, as the Lord reveals the depth of his grace stored up for us, let me hear from you.

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I wanted to know about Jesus and started to read the bible. The book said Jesus was my savior. “Why do I need a savior?” I could see that I would need a forgiver of my wrongdoings. But I could not see the need for a savior. I became restless. One day thoughts entered my innermost being. Immediately I knew that I was a sinner and that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. For the first time, I called Jesus Lord and Savior. Jesus’ death on the cross became as clear as that the sun rises from the east and sets in the west. Restlessness disappeared and peace came.

Years passed. I came to realize what I did to Jesus while I was a sinner. Jesus was in love with me and I rejected him. Between two lovers, the greater the love is, the more hurtful the betrayal becomes. Since his love for me was of the greatest measure, his hurt must have been of the greatest measure, too. It tormented my heart. One day the Lord revealed to my innermost being that there was no scar in his heart from my betrayal and that I should join the feast of his resurrection. Immediately, Jesus’ resurrection became as clear as his death on the cross. Torment was removed and joy came.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Cor. 15:17)

If Jesus had not resurrected, I would have to remain in remorse for my entire life, and the sin of betraying his love would ever be with me. How grateful I am to the Lord for rising from the dead! He not only died for me but also resurrected for me. Amen.

Lord,
This is the season to remember your resurrection from the death. As I remember your resurrection, this strange joy fills my heart. Fill the hearts of my brothers and sisters with the same joy. I lift your name high, and give honor and glory to you. Amen.

 

[IKTCA]

The twenty-four elders fall before the one who is seated on the throne
and worship the one who lives forever and ever (Rev 4:10)

When my heart is filled with praise, my spirit desires to leave the body and reach the heaven, where I can see the throne from afar, and join the twenty-four elders in their worship of God and the Lamb even from distance.

You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power. (v. 11)

A man who once refused to know God now longs to live in his love. What grace is this! A man who once knew not Jesus now fellowships with him. What privilege is this! A man from below now lives a life from above. What gift is this!

If I had ten thousand mouths,
With all the mouths I will sing the glory of my God.
Amen.