Today's Passage - Acts 12:18-25

Acts 12:18-25 ...Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king's country for their food supply. On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man." Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to increase and spread... "Herod" is the king appointed by the Roman government over Palestine. King Herod is an Edomite and a descendent of Esau. In the Old Testament, Esau and Jacob had been in rivalry and the hatred between them built up over generations. The Edomites and the Israelites hated each other and do not get along. For this reason, the Roman government deliberately put King Herod over the Israelites, to rule over the Israelites. The Bible refers to several Herod. Herod the Great was king during the time Jesus was born. When the Magi from the east told him that Jesus was born, he ordered that all children below two years of age be killed. After his death, King Herod was succeeded by his son, Archelaus. The reason King Herod died was because he did not give God the glory that was due to Him, even considering himself to be God. As such, an angel of the Lord immediately killed him. The early church often witnessed an immediate punishment of people's wrongdoings. As in the case of Ananias in Acts Chapter 5, God's purpose is to use this to serve as warning. Those who follow God need to understand that God is not to be mocked. They must be led by the Holy Spirit, and act in accordance with God's will. We really need to thank God, that he no longer does that today. However, we still need to be careful, and not steal the glory of God. How do we give God the glory that is due to Him? The easiest way is through praising God. The book of Psalms teaches us to praise God seven times a day. Of course, the important part is not the actual number of times. The number seven represents perfection. In other words, we should praise God every moment. Open your mouth to praise Him. Praise Him first thing in the morning because when you start the day by praising God, your day will be filled with victory and joy. When our mouths are filled with praises of God, it brings much life and energy to our lives. Pray with Pastor Tong Lord, we thank you because you are a faithful and true God. You are holy and not to be mocked. Help us, Lord, to learn to praise you each day with our mouths. Let our hearts not be polluted by evil, but let our mouth be filled with joy. We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen! Participate in Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - by Donating a Seat for a future new believer!