SIMON'S SIN

Acts 8:9-25  

MAGIC  -  WITCHCRAFT

Just the word stirs some response in everyone’s mind!, but it differs probably with each of us.

To the African mind, it is seen in the local “witch doctor” with her herbs, and other items, and the dress of her pagan ancestors, she claims to cast a spell of evil, to deliver escape from some els’ spell, to heal the sick, or just about do what ever people are prepared to pay for. I know of at least two times I was personally on the receiving end of an evil spell. The first was, when there was a church problem. This particular African black church wanted rid of their Coloured Minister so they turned to the missionaries in the hope that they would solve everything for them. When things did not seem to go their way, they began singing and dancing, to cast a spell on the missionaries and solve their problem in their own way. Their “knobkerries” and convenient stones would finish it all. Sometimes they simply hid a packet of evil objects on the property of a white employer and no one would work for that person. Sometimes a baby, or an adult, would simply die for no apparent reason. (They no longer fed them, because they were going to die anyway.) This is the reality of witchcraft, still throughout Africa. My second personal time, I simply turned away a women demanding money at my door. She stood in the street and cast  spell over us. We are still here, and she is not after many years.

In the mind of the South African European, white person, it is more likely represented by the “Gipsy” fortune teller and financial advisor who when the weather turns warm enough, will leave her affluent home, and park her travel trailer beside a major street in the city. I have even seem them parked downtown beside a parking meter! She will advise guidance in decision making, financial matters, in fact whatever you may want, again for a fee. She will “read your palm,” consult her crystal ball, read your tea leaves, or call back the dead.

This is the type of thing that Saul had forbidden in his kingdom and then he, himself, consulted the witch of Endor. The word “witch” is of Medo-Persian” source, so it has been around for a very long time, and is still alive, and very evident, not only in Africa. I think it is the same as the “demons”, the fallen angels, of the Bible.

  

9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

The local such person was Simon. He was evidently a man of means and this had been his

source of income, so when he became a believer, he began to look for ways to keep his income flowing. His faith was weak, so he certainly was attracted by the miracles he was seeing. He could adapt this to his own benefit! In that way he could retain his wealth and his power!

SOME GREAT ONE

(Acts 8:11, Acts 13.6, Acts 5:6)

10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

His title was being challenged, but he could turn this in his own favor. His talent was that he was confident, and he was a leader. He had proven that. If he were living today, he would probably be the charismatic leader of thousands with a television program and a budget to prove his power. There have been many such men who consider themselves to be “some great one.” and their proof of their greatness to be the size of the church they minister toI recall one such man in South Africa. His base was a large and affluent, and his message and personality impressive. This was so much so that one April 1, the leading newspaper of Johannesburg announced that he had bought a LearJet to reach his many followers. That was one of the paper’s most successful “April Fools” jokes. Many believed it.

(Acts 14:11, Acts 28:6)

11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

(Acts 8:9, Acts 13:6)

12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

At that time Philip, who had been appointed a deacon to help in the church’s widows aid, was preaching in Samaria. This Philip was also a gifted evangelist in that many men and women were believing, repenting of their sinful lives, and being baptized for the remission of their sins.

(Acts 1:3, Acts 8:4, Acts 2:38)

13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

Simon also believed, seeing their miracles and signs. One wonders about the repentance of his past sins, for his attraction seems you have been the miracles and signs. These things he could certainly use to his advantage. Since he was wealthy, and Philip and those with him were clearly not, he assumed that they would be eager to sell this ability to him.

(Acts 8:6, Acts 19:11)

14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

(Acts 8:1, Luke 22:8)

15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans. That was enough of a shock, for the Jews hated the Samaritans.

(Acts 2:38, Acts 19:2)

16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only that they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

This verse gives us reason for thought. I have personally been concerned that most baptisms have been done only, “in the name of Jesus Christ.” and not “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and the gift of the Holy Spirit” as we read was the case in Acts 2:38. How are those who witness these baptisms to know anything about the Holy Spirit and his work, if they are not told so at this time?  

(Matthew 28:19, Acts 19:2, Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48)

17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

In this case, they apparently gave the power to perform miracles to the Samaritans, here was the opportunity for Simon to also receive it. This was his opportunity, They received it, why not I?

(Mark 5:23, Acts 6:6, Acts 2:4)

18  And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Peter’s response was a shock to Simon. Smon went for the heart, not the question. His heart was not right. How many of us make our decisions for other than from a heart felt need to be serving God better?

(2 Kings 5:16, Isaiah 55:1, Daniel 5:17, Matthew 10:8, Acts 2:38)

21   Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

(Deuteronomy 10:9, Deuteronomy 12:12, Ephesians 5:5, Psalm 78:37)

22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

The mind may be responsible for sending the message to the rest of our being, but the purpose, and that which we do arises from the heart. The mind deals with logic, but the heart with love. We do not love because it is logical. I recall that I was married at a most illogical time. Logic would have said, “Get your degrees out of the way first,” but the heart said, “Now.”

(Isaiah 55:7)

23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of wickedness, and in the bond of iniquity.

(Isaiah 55:6)

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have  spoken come upon me.

It is said that the early church fathers, credit the first steps of Gnosticism to Simon.

(Genesis 20:7, Exodus 8:8, Numbers 21:7, James 5:16)

25  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem,and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

(Luke 16:28, Acts 13:12, Acts 8:40, Matthew 10:5)

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

JUNE

16th  Sunday  -  1 Kings 2,    Acts 11,    Psalm 74:10-17

17th  Monday  -  1 Kings 3, 4,    Acts 12,    Proverbs 15:1-8

18th  Tuesday  -  1 Kings 5, 6,    Acts 13:1-25,    Psalm 74:18-23

19th  Wednesday  -  1 Kings 7,   Acts 13:26-52,    Psalm 75

20th  Thursday  -  1 Kings 8,    Acts 14,    Psalm 76

21st  Friday  -  1 Kings 9, 10,    Acts 15:1-22,    Proverbs 15:9-18

22nd Saturday  -  1 Kings 11,    Acts 15:23-41,    Psalm 77:1-9

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MEMORY VERSE

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

-  Acts 17:11

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IT WASN’T ME

Coming through the church just before the service was scheduled to begin, a visiting special speaker, noted that there was a very sparse congregation.

“There are not many people in church today,” he commented, “Did you tell them I was coming?”

“No, sir,” his host replied. “Someone else must have told them.”

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THE POWER OF LANGUAGE

Like seems to attract like. Dare to be different and you will be resented, perhaps even attacked. As a child my parents used to order baby chickens from a hatchery and they arrived at our farm with the mail. In order to keep them from piling up and suffocating one another, they arrived in special boxes, separated into sections like an egg box. Occasionally there would be one chick that was black and that one would require very special care as the others would peck it to death. Through no fault of its own, it was just different.

Going far back in history, Noah and his family were different, which probably says much about the fact that though he dared build a boat far from water, and did not join the rest of the world in their pagan worship, only his sons and their wives, believed his preaching over the hundred years it took him to build the ark. They were different.

God brought the construction of the Tower of Babel to an instant stop by confounding their language and changing their hereditary appearance into the many different peoples we see in the world today.

Joseph was so different from his brothers that they did not recognize this “Egyptian” they dealt with in Egypt. God used this difference as He prepared a chosen people for the advent of the Messiah.

At the same time, he was also preparing a nation that would provide a master language and transportation. The Romans introduced Greek as the official language and a network of military roads over which the Gospel would be spread throughout their Empire.

At Pentecost, He provided through the Holy Spirit, instant translations and interpreters to preach the message of  salvation through Jesus Christ. When the people heard and cried out, “What must we do,” Peter told them how to be cleansed of their sins so the Lord could add them to His church. The Apostles would use that common language, and the trade routes that the Romans had built, to carry the message of salvation to the limits of the empire. God is still doing the same today with the web, television and even the English language. The English formed an empire and  language links that span the world. In Africa we see new nations being formed, and, one of their official languages is often English. At the same time it is the goal that the Bible will be translated in all the languages of the world in the next fifty years.

Acts 2:1-12

1  And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place,

If a church was not founded, fully developed, as the Lord wanted it, on that first Pentecost, it can not be His church.   

2  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

This was not a wind. It as the sound, as of a mighty wind. The sound was like wind. Wind is destructive, this was not.

3  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

The physical manifestation was “like as of fire”. God’s presence is often depicted as like a fire. Remember Moses’ burning bush, that was not destroyed, the Pillar of fire that led the Children of Israel across the wilderness..

  

4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This is the most wonderful of all the manifestations. This message is for all the world.

5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

We find this in every major City of the world today.

6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

While the speaker preached in his own language, the hearing all who heard, do so in their own dialect and language.

7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all of them which speak Galileans?

8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

The miracle was in the hearing.  I have preached sermons being heard in three languages. The thrill is when you can speak as you would in only your own, but you see the response in the listeners.

9  Parthians, and Medes,and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12  And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

JUNE

9th  Sunday  -  2 Samuel 16, 17,    Acts 7:37-60    Proverbs 14:19-25

10th  Monday  -  2 Samuel 18,    Acts 8:1-24,    Psalm 71:19-24

11th  Tuesday  -  2 Samuel 19,    Acts 8:25-40,    Psalm 72

12th  Wednesday  -  2  Samuel 20, 21,    Acts 9:1-22,    Psalm 73:1-14

13th  Thursday  -  2 Samuel 22,    Acts 9:23-43,    Proverbs 14:26-35

14th  Friday  -  2 Samuel 23, 24,    Acts 10:1-18,    Psalm 73:15-28

15th  Saturday  -  1 Kings 1,    Acts 10:19-48,    Psalm 74:1-9

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FOR LINKS TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOGS

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MEMORY VERSE

“The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” -  Acts 2:47b

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Asked once why so many Christians seem much less than perfect, C.S.Lewis replied, “You should have seen them before they became Christians.”

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We were called to be witnesses, not lawyers.

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LOVEST THOU ME, PETER?

“These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31

You and I are either alive or we are dead. John makes it very clear that he is writing that we may be able to be able to be among the alive spiritually. In the long run, physically is not worth comment. Don’t squander that precious time we have been given to prepare for eternity.

Let us visualize the scene for the coming action. Peter had announced that he was going fishing, and the other ten of the apostles had accompanied him in two of his boats. They had lowered their nets and fished all night with no catches. In the early morning they saw a man on the shore. He was cooking fish over a fire. He called to them, asking if they had caught any fish, and they had to admit they had not. Then, strangely, he suggested they cast their nets on the other side of their boat. When they tried his instruction their nets surfaced totally filled with fish.

This had happened before! and by it, they knew that this was Jesus! Leaving the nets dragging in the water they headed to him. Peter, pulling on his clothing, leapt into the water to reach him first. When Jesus asked for more fish to prepare, they took stock and found that they had caught 153 large fish in that one cast. Their boat was heavily loaded, and none of the nets were damaged. Only Jesus could do this! As far as we know, this was the last time they went back to their trade as fishermen for fish. The message was as clear, as they remembered his promise, I will make you fishers of men.  

John 21:15-17

For us to understand this portion, we should be reading it in the original Greek language, but all we really need to know is the meaning of two of the words that are translated as “love” in our Bibles. There are really three words, but the Bible does not use the third, which, seems to be the one most people are the most familiar with today, thanks to the entertainment industry. That is the word for erroic and sexual activities.

15  So when they and dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou more than these? He saith to him, Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

(Greek - agapao, phileo. John 21:12, Matthew 26:33, Mark 14:29, John 13:37, Luke 12:32)

In our Bibles it would seem that Jesus has asked the same thing of Peter three times, but that is not so. The first two times he used the world for love that means a total commitment.

So, considering Peter’s denial three time that he even knew Jesus when he was in the garden of the high Priest, Jesus asks twice, “are you totally committed to me?”  The first time Peter replies with a qualified “yes”, he says “Feed my lambs.” Can you not picture all the fish at their feet? It is obvious that Peter was not caring for men. He was going back to his first total commitment, fishing.  

16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him; Yea, Lord; Thou knowest that love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

(Greek - agapao, phileo. Matthew 2:6, Matthew 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2, Revelation 7:17)

Again he asked, the same question, and Peter still used the weaker word. This time Jesus admonished, “Feed my sheep.”  Notice the change from lambs, to sheep, but that Peter still uses the weaker word, which means a conscious good will toward another. Jesus is trying to get him to see the difference.

17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, lovest thou me? And he said unto him Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

(Greek - phileo.  John 13:38, John 16:30, John 21:15, John 21:16)

The third time, Jesus asks using the lesser word. It was as obvious to Peter as if he had said, “Peter, do you even like me?”  This time he got through to Peter, and again he admonished, “Feed my sheep.”

 This is a lesson that we all need to hear, and apply to ourselves. The next time we are tempted to return to the things we really loved to do before we became a Christian, We need to ask ourselves. “Am I being totally committed to my Lord and Saviour?” Probably not. This life is short, much too short for us to take “recesses” like we did in grammar school.  

It is no sin to go fishing, unless we put it in the place of serving the Lord.

In the book of Revelation, 3:14-22, the letter to the church at Laodicea seems to identify with the church of today, wealthy, self centered, active in a “country club” style, it also happens to be the last letter, if you follow the theory that these letters represent the church in various eras historically. Unfortunately, it is also lukewarm as was the water in that wealthy city which got its water from hot springs.

The point is that in all the other cases, the church is admonished to repent, not so Laodicea, instead the letter addresses the individual faithful there. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and I will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh I will grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

There can be no greater honour than to be invited to sit with the Lord of Lords in his throne. He is coming, perhaps very soon, to gather his own from all the world over all the ages.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

JUNE

2nd  Sunday  -  2 Samuel 3,    Acts 2,    Psalm 69:1-12

3rd  Monday  -  2 Samuel 4, 5,    Acts 3,    Psalm 69:13-28

4th  Tuesday  -  2 Samuel 6, 7,    Acts 4,    Psalm 69:29-36

5th Wednesday  -  2 Samuel 8, 9,    Acts 5:1-16,    Proverbs 14:10-18

6th Thursday  -  2 Samuel 10, 11,    Acts 5:17-42,    Psalm 70

7th  Friday  -  2 Samuel 12, 13,    Acts 6,    Psalm 71:1-8

8th Saturday  -  2 Samuel 14, 15,    Acts 7:1-36,    Psalm 71:9-18

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FOR LINKS TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOGS

Search  <Searching the Scriptures with Bob>

and follow the links.

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MEMORY VERSE

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  -  Acts 4:12

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There were only a few shepherds at the first Bethlehem. The ox and the ass understood more about the first Christmas than the high priests in Jerusalem. And it is the same today.

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The wise men were truly wise men. Unlike most men, they stopped to ask directions.

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Sign seen in a department store: “Make this a Christmas your spouse won’t forget. Charge everything.

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JESUS' PRAYER FOR A UNIFIED WORLD

                                                                                        

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John 17:20-26

The prayer that we have been taught from the time that we were small children to pray is just that. It was Jesus answer to his disciples who asked him, Lord teach us to pray. We call it, “the Lord’s Prayer.” It was meant as an example of the type of things that we should include in our prayers; not a prayer to be repeated by memory every time we pray. What is included in our prayers depends upon the individual, the time, and the place. The mature Christian should turn to John 17. This is a prayer of our Lord and it deals with the deep core feelings and desires of Jesus as he talked with his Father. Jesus dealt with his deepest concerns, and this prayer is going to be answered! Our vision falls short, when we ask in generalities such as, “God bless the missionaries.”   Neither was he praying only for his apostles. Notice that his prayer says, “Neither pray I for these alone.” Yes, he prayed for the apostles, but he also prayed for, “ them also which shall believe on me through their word.” Go the extra mile, include their converts, the word they have been laboring to translate for all the unreached people of the world, who’s converts will carry that same Word to others, generation after generation. When I prepare a study, using a portion of His teaching, It want it to be available not only to the few I may personally be able to take it to, but I pray also for those may come across it and read it later on the web, perhaps on Facebook, Twitter, or Stumble-Upon, or perhaps by those who have been passed a study by someone using the “forward” button. It may be passed to someone in China, India, Europe, or to all over the world at one time. I know, for example, that this paragraph is going to Denmark, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and Hong Kong. How many countries can we working together, reach? This can be translated and forwarded in another language with only the click of a few buttons  We have already placed translated salvation tracts to about seventy languages with this in mind. We pray that you will help pass them.   

20  Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

What was it that Jesus was so concerned about? “That they may all be one.”  They speak different languages, they are scattered wide, but Jesus did not pray for something that was impossible. He prayed for what is not only possible, but what will be one day. We read that every knee shall bend one day in and every head bow, when he comes in his greatness. That is going to be a great day, and it is coming. God’s timing is perfect, and when the time is right, it will be answered. The saved will all be as one, of one mind.

He also tells us why that is desirable; “that the world may believe.”  Our divided faith is not what Jesus wanted for His church. Everything will change when we finally realize that He said what he wanted in His Word.  It alone must become our guide and authority. The only thing we need to be one, is that we agree to accept a, “thus saith the Word.” We can’t care less what brother John Doe, or sister Josephine say! We want to know what does Jesus say.

WHY?

   

21  That they may all be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

“That the world may believe.” What must we continually believe? We must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he was sent by God to make salvation possible. If he had not come, died, and risen from the dead, there would be no hope for any of us.

(“may continually believe,”  John 10:38, John 17:11, John 17:23,  John 17:8, John 3:17, John 17:3, John 17:8, John 17:18, John 17:23, John 17:25)

22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one.

Jesus is going to come in glorious power, and it will be he that unites all this splintered world into one. No one will be able to deny his authority. The world will, at last, know what real love is. “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love,“ 1 Corinthians 13:13.

23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of the world.

All that live on earth will know, where and what real love is. It existed from the foundation of the world, even before anything was created. Sex has nothing to do with it. God so loved the world, his creation, that he was willing to send his Son to make salvation available to all.

{John 17:2, John 12:26, John 1:14, John 17:22, Matthew 25:34, John 1:5)

25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

(“even the world” , John 17:11, 1 John 1:9, John 7:29, John 15:21, John 3:17, John 17:3, John 18:8, John 17:18, John 17:21, John 17:23)

26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

( John 17:6, John 15:9)

This is Jesus’ prayer, his concern what that we be eternally saved. This is how he wants us to pray.  Pray for the world to become one, in Him.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN THIS YEAR

MAY

26th  Sunday  -  1 Samuel 21, 22,    John 17,    Psalm 68:1-6

27th  Monday  -  1 Samuel 23, 24,    John 18,    Psalm 68:7-13

28th  Tuesday  -  1 Samuel 25,    John 19:1-22,    Proverbs 13:13-25

29th  Wednesday  -  1 Samuel 26, 27,    John 19:23-42    Psalm 68:14-19

30th   Thursday  -  1 Samuel 28, 29,    John 20,    Psalm 68:20-27        

31st  Friday  -  1 Samuel 30, 31,    John 20,    Psalm 68:28-35

JUNE

1st  Saturday  -  2 Samuel 1, 2,    John 2,    Proverbs 14:1-9

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FOR LINKS TO OUR CHRISTIAN BLOGS

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MEMORY VERSE

“But these ae written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing  ye might have life through his name.”  -  John 20:31

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FAST FOOD

When I stopped at a fast food restaurant recently, I was fascinated by a sign which offered fat free French fries. I decided to give them a try.

I was dismayed when the clerk filled a basket of fries from the fryer, which were dripping with fat. He filled a bag with them and put them in my order.

“Just a minute,” I said, “Those aren’t fat free.”

“Yes, they are. We only charge for the potatoes. The fat is free.”

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REMEMBER ALWAYS, “GOD LOVES YOU”

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