Experiencing the Promises of the Bible, when they seem impossible; a women’s acrostic devotional

Aleph — Experiencing Divine Radiance

Halos on the Apostles after spending time with the Resurrected Jesus

Today’s Hebrew Letter is Aleph, the first letter.

Today’s Woman is Phoebe.

Today’s Bible Version is the Living Bible Translation

Today’s Scriptures are:

Psalm 34:5

Romans 16:1–2

Acts 6:15

Exodus 34:29–35

Ephesians 5:27

Revelation 21:2

Greetings. God Loves you, Sisters (John 3:16). As created beings we have never been unloved by our Creator. He has made our bodies and souls so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. His workmanship concerning us is marvelous. (Psalm 139:14). Yes, “God don’t make junk.” And even before we were in the womb, God had a loving plan about who’s good deeds should help make your life better and who you should help with your good deeds (Ephesians 1:4, 2:10). Yes, He knew that this would be a difficult world, and so He decided what good should happen in this world before he designed the world itself. From His Throne in eternity where He is the Author of Life (Acts 3:15), God loves everybody (Matthew 5:45). He provides the sun and rain on the just and unjust. And with his great love and power, He has given every ethnic group, each gender, and each socioeconomic class, a pathway towards salvation, where there was none before (John 3:16; Acts: 17:25–28). And He has made Himself is near, even when He seems far and beyond all possible reach. Those who are just, experience the fulfilment of his Divine Promises, no matter which ethnic group, gender, or socioeconomic class they are from. My hope is that after reading this article you, also, will start experiencing God, and the fulfillment of the Promises that He has made concerning you. They won’t seem impossible anymore.

The Hebrew Alphabet teaches us not just letters, but truths about God. Aleph, the first letter It means the unity that God has in heaven. There is no injustice, no conflict, just love, agreement, and cooperation in God’s home in Heaven, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live. It is the opposite of earth, where there is much conflict. Aleph existed long before the Doctrine of the Trinity. The closer we move towards God, the more Aleph we experience. And the more time we spend seeking a genuine relationship with God, the more the transforming power of divine radiance can be ours, (Matthew 5:8).

And radiance is a transformative quality that some people have and others do not. It causes those who have no reason that anybody should even notice them, as Jesus was in his human form, (Isaiah 53:2–3) into somebody who is attractive, as Jesus was after his Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2, Mark 9:2–3, Luke 9:28–29, Hebrews 1:3). It makes the ugly charismatic, before they speak a word. It is a Promise of God concerning those who trust in Him, his people; the just. This promise is found in Psalm 34:5, “Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” Those who spend time with him become radiant. This radiance is divine and it should attract others towards God, more than it attracts them towards us.

I have experienced this. It is a promise that God has historically kept throughout the millenniums. This has been recorded in art by the use of halos, in depictions of his saints. In the New Testament, the Deaconess Phoebe and the Deacon Stephen, the first martyr, were described as radiant. In the Old Testament, Moses was radiant (Exodus 34:29–35). Phoebe is mentioned in Romans 16:1–2,

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me.”

It is historically held that she was a radiant person, that her name even meant radiant, and that she was the messenger that delivered the Epistle of the Romans. She lived in a culture that was quite unfair, dangerous, and violent. Much of the safety of our culture, were not even known by them. Phoebe could’ve chosen unforgiveness, but instead she chose the type of relationship with God that gave her radiance. In her culture women were not equals. They couldn’t meet unauthorized strangers, freely chose what social events they would attend, vote, or own land. If they were fortunate enough that they held the privilege of getting married, they were treated as baby makers, while their husbands ran around participating in many kinds of unfaithful relationships in the parties with strangers, the pubic baths, and elsewhere. If they became divorced, the husband almost always kept the children, and had the wife live with her father. However, amongst all of this uncertainty, in the first church, where Phoebe was a member, members who spent enough time with God that they were radiant had an inspiring relationship with God, where honored with positions of responsibility, as Phoebe was.

Deacon Stephen was another person, who was promoted because of his inspiring relationship with God, (Acts 6:1–6). And in Acts 16:5, it was said of the Deacon Stephen, “At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.” Even unbelievers could see divine glow.

In Acts 16:5, it was said of the Deacon Stephen, “At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s.”

And Moses was radiant when He returned from the top of Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments:

“ When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant,] he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called out to them and asked Aaron and all the leaders of the community to come over, and he talked with them. Then all the people of Israel approached him, and Moses gave them all the instructions the Lord had given him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses finished speaking with them, he covered his face with a veil. But whenever he went into the Tent of Meeting to speak with the Lord, he would remove the veil until he came out again. Then he would give the people whatever instructions the Lord had given him, and the people of Israel would see the radiant glow of his face. So he would put the veil over his face until he returned to speak with the Lord.”

When the Lord allows that humans have an audience with Him, as in sincere prayer and Bible study, His radiance is reflected, and then wears off. As the Son, He is so radiant that he is brighter than many suns (Revelation 1:16, Daniel 10:6). As the Father, He is so full of holy radiance that nobody can enter his presence and survive (Exodus 33:20). Yet, children have some radiance, even before they know God, but not after they chose a life of sin, (Matthew 18:10; Proverbs 13;18). And angels, who visit earth, after spending most of their time with God in Heaven, are still radiant when they get here (Luke 2:9).

I am not sure when I first became radiant, but it was from spending time with Jesus. When I became I Christian, I wanted a real relationship with God. Began daily prayer and Bible study with reckless abandon. I didn’t care about the consequences of my faithfulness. I extended church invitations all day, every day, whenever I met just about anybody. I kept this up, and after a long while, and I began feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit flowing out of my inner being, as a fountain. I attended church six times a week. People began apologizing if they cussed in my presence. And strangers stopped and asked me if I was a Christian, even when I wasn’t speaking, because of my radiance. It like is The Holy Spirit within begins increasing in brilliance and it shines on my face.

In the New Testament, radiance was something that the best Deacons and Deaconesses possessed. This is recorded in the story of Stephen. (Acts 6:5&15). In the story of Mary and Martha, some of Jesus’ best friends, it was Mary who spent time with Jesus, while Mary spent time working so that Jesus would experience great hospitality while visiting their home. Jesus proclaimed that Martha had made the better choice (Luke10:42). And this choice is better as a Christian devotion choice, as Christian lifestyle choice, and as a Christian ministry choice. Christian who devote time with Jesus, witness more of his Promises being fulfilled in their lives. They can see victory over and freedom from all manner of sins. Those who live their lives based on what they have learned in spending time in Bible study and prayer with Jesus, can experience having all they need, right at their fingertips, as they go about their day, sometime without even buying what is needed. And those who minister in this way can walk in the kind of power that avoids falling into scandalous sins.

And speaking of scandal, Jesus is planning on another visit on earth. He will be seeking radiant believers. He came as the suffering servant the first time, (Isaiah 53). This time He is coming so that He can rapture the church, especially the radiant, Ephesians 5:27 says, “He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.” He completed his mission of carrying his cross, suffering in such a totally and completely shocking manner, and then resurrecting, so that He could provide a way that His church could be radiant. Yet, there are few in the church who are radiant. Later, He will be returning as the Divine Justice Warrior (Revelation 19:11–16). And finally He returns as the Perfect Earthly King (Revelation 20:1–6). When He arrive at rapture time, some of those who trust in Him, won’t be radiant yet, as they will be new believers, delayed in maturing believers, and such; but those who are radiant will surely be delivered out of the messes they are surrounded by, as Enoch was delivered (Gensis 5:24; 11:5).

So, I pray that your life is being transformed into a life filled with divine radiance and love, even better than my life has been transformed. What God has given me and other saints throughout the ages, can be yours as well. But if this message finds you are feeling hopeless, and have nobody that you can with, and you know no radiant Christians, don’t give up, until God sends you somebody who can minister His Blessings into your life at least call the National Helpline at 988. And you may email me at GoodGodAngryWorld @gmail.com.

And if you are not a Christian, yet you choose Christ now, please pray the Sinner’s Prayer:

“God our Father, I believe that out of Your infinite love You have created me. In a thousand ways I have shunned Your love. I repent of each and every one of my sins. Please forgive me. Thank You for sending Your Son that I may have eternal life. I choose this day to enter into (renew my) covenant with You and to place Jesus at the center of my heart. I surrender to Him as Lord over my whole life. I ask that You make me a new creation, and flood my soul with the gift of the Holy Spirit so that my life may be transformed. Give me the grace and courage to live as a disciple in Your Church for the rest of my days. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.”

If you prayed, welcome into the Lord’s Kingdom! The Angels of Heaven throw a big celebration each time someone becomes a Christian!!! Please visit my husband, Minister Schwartz’ website, if you need more information about next steps: https://sheepofJesus.wixsite.com/hope