Acts
16:31-40
"And
they said,
Believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Hearing,
believing, and being baptized are the consistent pattern in Acts (see 18:8).
How is religion affecting humans in todays fast pace world as compared to our past religious beliefs? “The gospel of Christ”: The good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone! ❤👍💕 GRACE God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
Friday, September 27, 2019
Reading a book is good, with help is sometimes great
A little taste of
the reason why one should seek help while reading books from the past, like for
instance, the Bible.
Today I learned that
back in the days of the Roman Empire/ Apostle Paul (Saul), many women taught
the Jews, scripture because it takes 10 men to build a synagogue!
If women can teach
on the Sabbath in open areas, why not also in buildings?
Acts
16:13 "And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where
prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which
resorted [thither]."
“By
a river side”: Evidently, the Jewish community did not have the minimum of 10
Jewish men who were heads of households required to form a synagogue. In such
cases, a place of prayer under the open sky and near a river or sea was adopted
as a meeting place. Most likely this spot was located where the road leading
out of the city crossed the Gangites River.
“Women
which resorted thither”: In further evidence of the small number of Jewish men,
it was women who met to pray, read from the Old Testament law, and discuss what
they read.
Jew
often gathered by a riverside on the Sabbath when their community lacked enough
Jewish males to establish a synagogue. Since the institution of the synagogue
is usually dated with the Exile (as in Ezek. 11:16), this practice may also
have arisen from Ezekiel (1:1; 3:15).
There
are several things we must notice here. These people were Jewish, because they
observed Sabbath. We know that Luke was with Paul here, because he says
"we", and Luke is the penman. It is rather interesting that Paul is
not speaking in the synagogue, but on a river bank.
It
is also interesting, that his first ministry here in Philippi is to the women.
This has to be the working of the Holy Spirit. We will find later (in
Philippians 4:3), that the church in Philippi has two women ministering in the
church and Paul tells the church to be supportive of them.
Philippians
4:3 "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which
labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellow
laborers, whose names [are] in the book of life."
Acts
16:14 "And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of
Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard [us]: whose heart the Lord opened, that
she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul."
“Lydia
… the city of Thyatira”: Her home city was located in the Roman province of
Lydia, thus the name “Lydia” was probably associated with her place of origin.
“Seller
of purple”: Because purple dye was extremely expensive, purple garments were
usually worn by royalty and the wealthy. As a result, Lydia’s business turned a
nice profit, which enabled here to have a house large enough to accommodate the
missionary team (verse 15), and the new church at Philippi (verse 40).
“Which
worshipped God”: Like Cornelius, she believed in the God of Israel but had not
become a full proselyte (10:2).
“Whose
heart the Lord opened”: This is another proof of the sovereignty of God in
salvation (see note on 13:48).
Paul’s
first European convert was from the very province (Asia), where Paul had
recently been forbidden to go (16:6).
“Thyatira”
was one of the seven cities of the Roman province of Asia addressed (in
Revelation chapters 2 and 3). It was situated over 50 miles northeast of Smyrna
and about 30 miles southeast of Pergamum on the road from Pergamum to Laodicea.
Thyatira was a busy commercial center famous for its purple cloth and “fine
brass”: (bronze), works, especially armor.
Lydia
was apparently a salesperson traveling hundreds of miles from her hometown.
Archaeologists have uncovered many inscriptions at Thyatira revealing a more
diversified manufacturing center here than among the more renowned cities like
Ephesus or Smyrna.
These
crafts included wool, linen, leather, bronze, dyeing, tanning and pottery.
Thyatira today is called Akhisar (population 47,000).
It
appears that the Holy Spirit sent Paul and the others to minister to Lydia and
to start a church here in her home. It appears that Lydia worshipped God before
Paul came, but after hearing the gospel message, received it with gladness in
her heart.
Acts
16:15 "And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought [us],
saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house,
and abide [there]. And she constrained us."
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Act 15:1-26
“Through the grace
of the Lord Jesus”: A resounding affirmation of salvation by grace through
faith alone (see notes on Rom. 3:24-25).
Peter reminds them
that Salvation is the same for Jew and Gentile.
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it
is] the gift of God:" "Not of works, lest any man should boast."
These people (in
verse 1), are like many of the people of our day, who add obligations to be
done, to be saved. Salvation is simple. (Romans 10:9-10), explains it
perfectly. (John 3:15-17), tells it so well in Jesus' own words.
Jesus and the
apostles clearly teach that salvation is by God’s grace through faith alone
(2:21; 16:31; John 3:3, 36; 5:24; Rom. 3:24; 4:4-5; 21-24; 5:1; 10:9-10, 13;
Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:5; 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 5:11-13; Rev. 1:5; 5:9). The book
of Galatians extensively deals with this problem.
Act 15:1-26
https://www.biblestudytools.com/acts/passage/?q=acts+15:1-29
Study Guide
Acts 26:23 "That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should
be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the
people, and to the Gentiles."
“Christ should suffer … rise from the dead”: Messiah’s suffering
(Psalm 22; Isa. 53), and resurrection (Psalms 16:10; 13:30-37), the central
themes of Paul’s preaching, are clearly taught in the Old Testament.
The suffering of Christ was to us-ward, that he might save us from
our sin. Had Christ not suffered and His body died, then we could not have
everlasting life. We will rise to life eternal, because our leader rose first.
He is our Savior.
1 Corinthians 15:15- 23: "Yea, and we are found false
witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:
whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not." "For if the
dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:" "And if Christ be not
raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins." "Then they
also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." "If in this
life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of
them that slept." "For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also
the resurrection of the dead." "For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive." "But every man in his own order:
Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
The light that shines is the hope of eternal life. This is to the
Gentile, as well as the Jew.
Acts 26:24 "And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said
with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee
mad."
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Reading any interesting books lately?
Studying helps to
learn
Reading any
interesting books lately?
When one gets tired
of the fast pace 'riffraff' of today’s living
and
just want to
chill-out with a book, which book to read?
Ever try to read
‘Shakespeare’ for the first time?
Shakespeare, one of
the best play writers in the day,
problem today is,
‘In The Day’!
Once one gets a good
teacher and learns that time period,
Shakespeare is great
reading.
Myself (now
retired), and as a slow reader and once a student/teacher/learner of my
ancestors,
I look for other
books on other believers (religion), for interesting reading.
However; like
Shakespeare,
I am beside myself
trying to read, with understanding,
because of the
difference in writing then and now.
I and I am sure
sometimes you, need a good teacher?
Alas along came this
one.
If one ever just
wants to know what all of this fuss is about
with so many beliefs
today
that in reality
started some years ago with one,
read a little about
some of them an then take the time to compare?
Remember (Elymas)
Remember this my
Christian/Hebrew followers of trump?
21 -On the appointed
day Herod,
wearing his royal robes,
sat on
his throne and delivered
a public address to the people.
22 -They shouted,
“This is the voice of a god, not of a man.”
23- Immediately,
because
Herod (trump), did not give praise to God,
an angel
of the Lord struck him down,
and
he was
eaten by worms and died.
trump is
not a Christian
or
a Jew
and
believer only in himself!
P.S.
He also
is not Creator!
Is he
your god?
Remember bar-jesus (Elymas)
Monday, September 16, 2019
How are the Christians of this day teaching you today?
If you have a
religious book
out about your religious beliefs,
I wish to enjoy learning
so I
want to read?
How are the
Christians of this day teaching/preaching to (we) the
(Indigenous people
of this hemisphere)?
Are they trying to
save
‘we the heathens’
or
are they, in fact’
becoming heathens?
Also
Same question for
‘We,
the Natives of
the land’?
Every time I have
gone to a gathering, powwow or school invite and a “leader” gets up and said
nothing for 20 or 30 minutes saying nothing while patting him/her self on the
back, at the opening prayer to ‘Creator for a blessing’
I find myself asking
Creator for his/her forgiveness!
It is not what is
coming out of your mouth,
it is what you show is in your heart.
Also
Today’s Christians
need to re-read Acts and/or all of their ‘Manuel from their God’?
Just as we, yours
truly, must re-think our Creator.
Acts 11:21
"And the hand
of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the
Lord."
“Hand of the Lord”:
This refers to God’s
power expressed in judgment
(Exodus 9:33; Deut.
2:15; Jos. 4:24; 1 Sam. 5-6; 7:13), and in blessing (Ezra 7:9; 8:18; Nehemiah
2:8, 18). Here, it refers to blessing.
“All of the eloquent
preaching
in the world
will not bring one sinner to salvation,
if God is not
the author of the sermon”!
As in
“All of the eloquent
speaking from a ‘puffed up leader’, going to get our Creators attention for a
blessing to a gathering”!
Or
Worse yet,
assumes
that he/she
has the power to bless Creator?
What makes a sermon
cause people to be saved is the power of the Holy Spirit in the message.
The Holy Spirit woos
the person and prepares his heart to receive before the message even begins.
1 Corinthians 1:21
"For after that
in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe."
You see, what is
foolish to man is wise to God.
Circumcised and Uncircumcised
Circumcised and
Uncircumcised that is the question.
“God also to the
Gentiles granted repentance unto life”:
One of the most shocking admissions in
Jewish history, but an event that the Old Testament had prophesied (Isa. 42:1,
6; 49:6; see note on 2:38).
Isaiah 42:1
1"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I
will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations.
Isaiah 42:6
6"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your
hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a
light for the Gentiles,
Isaiah 49:6 6he
says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the
tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make
you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the
earth."
How can they fight
against God? This just shows them again, the greatness of God. This leaves no
doubt. God is interested in the Gentiles, as well. Salvation is to whosoever
will. One thing they have overlooked in all of this, is those Jesus ministered
to.
One of the most
vivid examples to me, is where the mother comes to Jesus for help for her
demoniac daughter.
Matthew 15:21-28
"Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and
Sidon." "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts,
and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, [thou] son of David; my
daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." "But he answered her not
a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she
crieth after us." "But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto
the lost sheep of the house of Israel." "Then came she and worshipped
him, saying, Lord, help me." "But he answered and said, It is not
meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs." "And
she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their
masters' table." "Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman,
great [is] thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was
made whole from that very hour."
You see, God
respects faith wherever it is. Jesus set the example here and in many other
places. Peter has done the correct thing. He has been obedient to God and not
man.
Friday, September 13, 2019
Saul/Paul “Eunuch”
It is
normal for your God to speak to you!
Will
you, Do you, listen?
However;
If you refuse to listen!
3
As he neared
Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.
4
He
fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you
persecute me?"
5
"Who
are you, LORD?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting," he replied.
6
"Now
get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
7
The men traveling with Saul stood there
speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone.
8
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened
his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
9
For three days he was blind, and did not eat or
drink anything.
10
In Damascus there was a
disciple named Ananias.
The LORD called to him in a vision,
"Ananias!" "Yes, LORD," he answered.
11
The LORD told him, "Go to the house of
Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is
praying.
12
In a vision he has seen a man
named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
15
But
the LORD said to Ananias,
"Go!
This man is my chosen instrument to
proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.
16
I will show him how much he must suffer for my
name."
17
Then Ananias went to the house
and entered it.
Placing his hands on Saul, he said,
"Brother Saul, the
LORD-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here-has sent me
so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18
Immediately, something like scales fell from
Saul's eyes, and he could see again.
He got up and was baptized,
19
and after taking some food, he regained his
strength.
Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.
19
and
after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Saul spent several days with
the disciples in Damascus.
20
At once he
began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
21
All those who heard him were astonished and
asked, "Isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who
call on this name?
And hasn't he come here to take them as prisoners to the
chief priests?"
22
Yet Saul grew more
and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus
is the Messiah.
23
After many days had gone
by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him,
24
but
Saul learned of their plan.
Day and night they kept close watch on the city
gates in order to kill him.
25
But his
followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in
the wall.
26
When he came to Jerusalem, he
tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing
that he really was a disciple.
27
But
Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his
journey had seen the LORD and that the LORD had spoken to him, and how in
Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.
Philip and the Ethiopian
It is normal for
your God to speak to you!
Will you, Do you,
listen?
7 He
was oppressed and afflicted,
yet
he did not open his mouth;
he was
led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and
as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so
he did not open his mouth.
Yet
who of his generation protested?
For he
was cut off from the land of the living;
9
If
you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is LORD," and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10
For it is with
your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that
you profess your faith and are saved.
39
When they came up
out of the water, the Spirit of the LORD suddenly took Philip away, and the
eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.
12
I
don't know where the Spirit of the LORD may carry you when I leave you. If I go
and tell Ahab and he doesn't find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have
worshiped the LORD since my youth.
16
"Look," they said, "we your
servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the
Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in
some valley." "No," Elisha replied, "do not send
them."
12
Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind
me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the LORD rose from the place where it
was standing.
14
The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away,
and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of
the LORD on me.
3
He
stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The
Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me
to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the
idol that provokes to jealousy stood.
Monday, September 9, 2019
Approximately 2.4% of American (USA), are Atheists.
Approximately 7.6
Billion people now live on Mother Earth
The total number of humans currently living today
was
estimated to have reached 7.6 billion people as of May 2018.
Approximately 2.4%
of American (USA), are Atheists.
And
for some unknown reason to ‘Yours Truly,
(it
blows my mind)
to see
and hear that atheist are now ruling
the
governments of the 'United States of America'?
Approximately 66%
believe in a Creator.
39.9%, 24%, 12.5%
(66%)
About
12.5% of the world's population are non-religious.
al-ilāh
What percentage of
the world is Muslim?
There are 1.6
billion Muslims around the world,
Or
Approximately 24% of
the world's current population.
What percentage of
the world is Christian?
Approximate 2
billion Christians in the world today,
Of the
approximate 2 billion Christians in the world today,
279
million (12.8% of the world's Christian population) identify themselves as
Pentecostals,
304
million (14%) are Charismatic’s,
And
285 million (13.1%) are Evangelicals or Bible-believing Christians.
The
controversial question of who is considered a Jew
makes
measuring Jewish populations difficult,
but it
is estimated that there are around 15 million Jews worldwide,
about
0.2 percent of the global population.
How many atheists
are in the world?
A 2004
survey by the CIA in the World
estimates
about 12.5% of the world's population
Are
non-religious,
How many Native Americans believe in a Creator?
I can find no reliable information and have not been to many of the hundreds of thousands of tribes of ‘Native People’ in this hemisphere of North and South America to make a guess!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_American_religion
And
about 2.4% are atheists.
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