Thurs.’s Devo - You Reap What You Sow

Read: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29, Acts 12:24-13:15, Ps. 137:1-9, Pr. 17:16 Against unbeatable odds, the children of Israel defeated King Hadad’s army. King Ahab should have killed him or taken him captive, but instead he made a treaty with him and set him free. God sent Elijah to tell Ahab that setting Hadad free was going to cost him his life. Ahab’s grieving must have been short because next we see him lusting over Naboth’s vineyard. It would be a perfect place for his vegetable garden. When Naboth refused to sell his family inheritance, Ahab mourned like a spoiled brat. Jezebel decided to put an end to his mourning and had Naboth falsely accused and killed so Ahab could have his vineyard. This cost Ahab his kingdom and his own inheritance. He also learned how he and Jezebel would die. When Ahab repented, God prolonged his families executions till after his death. The church met to see what God wanted them to do. After much fasting and prayer, God sent Saul and Barnabas on a traveling mission. They encountered a sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus. Saul, by the power of the Holy Spirit called Bar-Jesus a child of the devil and enemy of everything that is right. You gotta love his boldness! He proclaimed him blind and in his blindness he found Jesus. When the pro-counsel witnessed this, he too became a believer. Signs and wonders are to make unbelievers become believers. Miracles proclaim God’s majesty and power and that is why we need them today. In Antioch, they entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and after hearing the Bible reading of that day, they stood up to give the people a message….to be continued. Lord, may we walk in the same power and authority of the early Christians. May signs and wonders follow us.