Thurs.’s Devo- Walking in Power

Read: 1 Kings 2:1-3:3; Acts 5:1-42; Psalm 1251-5; Proverbs 16:25
David knew his time was getting short so he called in Solomon and gave him some orders about some unfinished business. First, David told Solomon to be strong and walk in God’s ways following all his commands. If he did, God would prosper him and his descendants would always possess the throne.
Then, David gave him orders concerning his last enemies. Joab had to be killed for killing two innocent men: Amnon and Abner. Shimei, the one who cursed him when fleeing from Absalom needed to be die young. He left the details up to Solomon. Lastly, he told Solomon to be kind to Barzillai who brought supplies to David and his men when they were fleeing Absalom. David asked Solomon to let him eat at his table. This would secure him being provided for for the rest of his life.
Adonijah went to Bathsheba and asked her to ask Solomon for the hand of Abishag. Abishag was the young woman who had been brought in to lay with David to keep him warm. Solomon saw this as a huge threat to his authority and had him killed for this. Solomon used Benaiah, one of David’s three mighty men to do all his military needs. Beanies saw to it that all these men were taken care of the way David had requested. Joab, Shimei, and Adonijah were all killed and Solomon had peace in his kingdom.
Then Solomon did a very foolish thing. He made an alliance with the Pharaoh of Egypt and married his daughter.
David died. He had reigned 7 years in Hebron and 33 in Jerusalem. In both these numbers we see that David totally completed his destiny and was conformed into the image of Christ.
In Acts, we see God also having to clean house in the church. Ananias and Sapphire were leaders in the church. While they were teaching to give everything to the Lord to help others, they themselves had kept back some of their money secretly for themselves. They lied about the price of the sell and just gave that much to the church making them liars and hypocrites. full of pride and lacking faith. God dealt with their lie and took them both out. Seems harsh, but when the power of God moves like it did then, it requires more fear and obedience. True revival should bring the fear of God.
This only led to more people coming to the faith in God. Everyone is looking for something more powerful than themselves to follow. How much better to follow God who is merciful and kind, than a dictator who rules in anger and terror.
As the apostles moved in miracles and signs and wonders, the religious leaders became more and more jealous. They tried to stop them by throwing Peter and his men in the public jail. Angels came and broke them out of jail at night and told them to go and preach the gospel in the temple courts.
The guards found the prison securely locked, but the prisoners gone. How could they explain a power greater than them? This made the Sanhedrin want to kill them, but God raised up Gamaliel to calm them down and let God take care of the apostles. The apostles were ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus and then let go. They left rejoicing and continued teaching in the temple courts, and in the houses daily. They never stopped proclaiming the good news of the gospel of Christ.
Lord, may we walk in the power of the Holy Spirit today.