fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397 
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Post by fearnot on Mar 5, 2019 5:15:57 GMT -5
I forgot to thank you for checking all the info about the not secure business!!!
That made sense as to what is going on!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 5, 2019 5:29:53 GMT -5
Acts 9:11-16
And God said to Ananias: "And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying",
A street named straight, reminded me of taking a straight and narrow path ( or enter in a narrow gate) and not a wide gate or path where the secular unsaved go.
But not only Ananias has a vision, Saul/Paul also has one from the Lord.
Then:But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem.
and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
That reminds me a little of Moses, kind of back peddling, but not without reason, at least, from a human standpoint.
I can certainly relate to Ananias!!
"But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;"
This actually is a verse with much hope, when I think of my unsaved loved ones.
Paul was a most unlikely convert!!!
And yet.....he was God's chosen instrument!
I liked this illustration I read:
"There is an old story about a little boy in a Sunday School class who was asked what part he played in his salvation. The boy said that his conversion was partly God’s work and partly his work. The teacher was shocked by the strange answer and asked what part he played in his salvation. He said “I opposed God all I could, and God did the rest.” That is the same doctrine of election that saved Saul."
But then
comes verse 16
"for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."
You have spent years helping me deal with pain and see great benefit from it.....and yet, I still, shudder and don't want to embrace it
Still, it does say: "for my name's sake" and that helps also!
Being a Christian, has a cost, one way or another, but we ( I) have our Lord. It seems a given in this world, that Love suffers. Jesus suffered so far beyond our comprehension, and we suffer, a little bit, for a time ( maybe a lifetime, but it is still a short time, and then we are with Him forever, and no more pain, ever again).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 6, 2019 14:09:39 GMT -5
Acts 9: 17-21
v.17 "So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Warren Wiersbe wrote:
“God can use even the most obscure saint. Were it not for the conversion of Saul, we would never had heard of Ananias; and yet Ananias had an important part to play in the ongoing work of the church. Behind many well-known servants of God are lesser-known believers who have influenced them. God keeps the books and will see to it that each servant will get a just reward. The important thing is not fame but faithfulness.”
v.18 "And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized"
I am not sure we know exactly what the 'scales' were, but they fell off, and his sight forevermore was focused on Lord Jesus.
Then, Paul was baptized outwardly identify himself with Jesus, though he had inwardly done so by faith.
v. 19 "and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,"
Saul/Paul first had his spiritual conditioned filled in the 'healthy, correct manner' and then after fasting for 3 days, he took care of his physical needs, and then spiritual fellowship ( who may have been among the very ones Saul had hoped to arrest).
Then, v.20
"and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
He does not wait, but gets right to it.
R.C. Sproul said, “Just minutes before his conversion, all that Paul could think of was what he could do to Christ, but immediately after, all he could think of is what he could do for Christ, which reveals the essence of his radical conversion.”
Bob Utley - "What irony! He came earlier with a letter from the High Priests in Jerusalem to the synagogues in Damascus to persecute the followers of Jesus and now he came to the same synagogues preaching Jesus as the Messiah"
v21 :All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"
It seems they knew who he was, and his message must have been a complete shock!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 7, 2019 11:05:51 GMT -5
Acts 9: 22-25
But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
This reminds me of: "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." I think the strength he got was Spiritual.
A commentator I never heard of before said this:
Steven Ger - "There can be no question that Saul had obviously absorbed and internalized Stephen's final message. It had not only been the executioners' cloaks that had been laid at Saul's feet that day. The baton of Stephen's ministry had also been dropped at Saul's feet. In Damascus, Saul picked up Stephen's fallen baton and began to run with it".
I never thought of that before.
However, many of the Jews would become incensed, and so they plotted together to do away with him.
In other words, Saul was to be silenced at all costs, and that reminds me of today, and how conservatives and Christians are being eliminated from social media platforms at an alarming rate, and being vilified as well.
In any case, "their plot became known to Saul. They were also watching the gates day and night so that they might put him to death.
but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a large basket"
Well that's one way to escape LOL
I know its not really funny, it's really sad, in so many ways, people are so blind.
It must have been both an 'interesting' and humbling experience.
But more would come in the future.
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Post by Cindy on Mar 7, 2019 11:09:43 GMT -5
My internet's being going out a lot lately and that's why I couldn't get here yesterday. Sorry...ACTS 9:9-10
"And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank"
I am guessing this fast included lots of prayers to Jesus that he just saw.
I liked this by a commentary I never heard of before:
"
Bruce Barton
He went storming out of Jerusalem in a huff; he came stumbling into Damascus in humility (Acts 9:8-9).
He went to arrest Christians; he ended up being arrested by Christ (Acts 9:1-5).
He began the trip determined to wipe out the message of Christ; he ended the trip devoted to the cause of taking that message to the ends of the earth (Acts 9:19-22).
He went from being a persecutor to being a persecuted one (Acts 9:23-25).
"Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." And he said, "Here I am, Lord."
Jack Andrews on a vision - The Lord spoke to Ananias in a vision. Many are skeptical of “visions” from the Lord and rightly so. Many cults and false religions have been started by false visions God’s primary way of speaking today is through His Spirit and through His Word! God can and does give visions but His visions will not contradict His word or blaspheme His Son, or mock His Spirit.
"Here I am, Lord." Reminded me of Samuel.
Spurgeon on Ananias' response of "Here I am, Lord." - He was ready. He did not ask, "What for?"
A commentator wrote:
"God called an unknown disciple named Ananias for this task. This has been true throughout church history. Consider this list of "nobodies":
John Staupitz: The man who helped lead Martin Luther to Christ.
John Egglen: Instrumental in the conversion of C. H. Spurgeon.
Edward Kimball: Just a shoe salesman . . . who happened to be D. L. Moody's spiritual mentor.
Mordecai Ham: A little-known evangelist who preached the night that Billy Graham yielded his life to Christ".
Sorry this is short.
Lost post because we got refurbished Chromebook and Leonard lost it trying to get new up and running and needed mine and lost everything I worked on.
I forgot to thank you for checking all the info about the not secure business!!!
That made sense as to what is going on!
Acts 9:11-16
And God said to Ananias: "And the Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying",
A street named straight, reminded me of taking a straight and narrow path ( or enter in a narrow gate) and not a wide gate or path where the secular unsaved go.
But not only Ananias has a vision, Saul/Paul also has one from the Lord.
Then:But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem.
and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
That reminds me a little of Moses, kind of back peddling, but not without reason, at least, from a human standpoint.
I can certainly relate to Ananias!!
"But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;"
This actually is a verse with much hope, when I think of my unsaved loved ones.
Paul was a most unlikely convert!!!
And yet.....he was God's chosen instrument!
I liked this illustration I read:
"There is an old story about a little boy in a Sunday School class who was asked what part he played in his salvation. The boy said that his conversion was partly God’s work and partly his work. The teacher was shocked by the strange answer and asked what part he played in his salvation. He said “I opposed God all I could, and God did the rest.” That is the same doctrine of election that saved Saul."
But then
comes verse 16
"for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake."
You have spent years helping me deal with pain and see great benefit from it.....and yet, I still, shudder and don't want to embrace it
Still, it does say: "for my name's sake" and that helps also!
Being a Christian, has a cost, one way or another, but we ( I) have our Lord. It seems a given in this world, that Love suffers. Jesus suffered so far beyond our comprehension, and we suffer, a little bit, for a time ( maybe a lifetime, but it is still a short time, and then we are with Him forever, and no more pain, ever again).
Acts 9: 17-21
v.17 "So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
Warren Wiersbe wrote:
“God can use even the most obscure saint. Were it not for the conversion of Saul, we would never had heard of Ananias; and yet Ananias had an important part to play in the ongoing work of the church. Behind many well-known servants of God are lesser-known believers who have influenced them. God keeps the books and will see to it that each servant will get a just reward. The important thing is not fame but faithfulness.”
v.18 "And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized"
I am not sure we know exactly what the 'scales' were, but they fell off, and his sight forevermore was focused on Lord Jesus.
Then, Paul was baptized outwardly identify himself with Jesus, though he had inwardly done so by faith.
v. 19 "and he took food and was strengthened. Now for several days he was with the disciples who were at Damascus,"
Saul/Paul first had his spiritual conditioned filled in the 'healthy, correct manner' and then after fasting for 3 days, he took care of his physical needs, and then spiritual fellowship ( who may have been among the very ones Saul had hoped to arrest).
Then, v.20
"and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
He does not wait, but gets right to it.
R.C. Sproul said, “Just minutes before his conversion, all that Paul could think of was what he could do to Christ, but immediately after, all he could think of is what he could do for Christ, which reveals the essence of his radical conversion.”
Bob Utley - "What irony! He came earlier with a letter from the High Priests in Jerusalem to the synagogues in Damascus to persecute the followers of Jesus and now he came to the same synagogues preaching Jesus as the Messiah"
v21 :All those hearing him continued to be amazed, and were saying, "Is this not he who in Jerusalem destroyed those who called on this name, and who had come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?"
It seems they knew who he was, and his message must have been a complete shock!
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Post by Cindy on Mar 8, 2019 11:20:22 GMT -5
Looks like I got here before you. I forgot to tell you that my internet had gone out another day this week too, and I sent you a message on messenger (not the facebook one as that's online and I obviously couldn't go online. Since you didn't reply, I guess you never got it. I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you.
Do you plan on finishing the imperishable beauty study or are you done with it? I ask because there's one more after the one I've already posted, but it's the very last one. I'll post it too since I have time today.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 8, 2019 11:33:01 GMT -5
Oh I didn't know there was another one.
Yes, I will do it, but I will start tomorrow because today I have to go to doctor, shopping with Leonard, take Hossanah to work with him, hang out with Devon etc.
So I will do Acts again today ( probably shortish, cuz I also have to get ready)
And I will start the imperishable beauty study tomorrow.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 8, 2019 11:54:04 GMT -5
Acts 9:26-28
"When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple"
Well, I can personally understand why. I can see how they might even think, he would pretend to be a believer for awhile ( years even), in hopes of catching even more.
Still, even so, I am thinking,
it might have been a good time to speak to him,
in hopes of God converting him ....
( even tho he was already saved but if they did not believe it....
I am just saying, if ever anyone we suspect of pretending to be a Christian for some nefarious reason,
rather than avoid him or her,
perhaps we are called to treat them as if they were saved,
or at least, talk freely about the good news).
Peterson comments that:
"Even believers who have seen the power of God at work in their own lives can doubt God’s ability to change others. It is also true that, ‘this shows a misdirected fear of the persecutor rather than God"
Ans so there was one, who did just that ( believed in the power of God in Saul/Paul's life)
"But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus".
Bruce Barton - "It is difficult to change one’s reputation, and Saul had a terrible reputation with the Christians. But Barnabas, a Jewish convert , became the bridge between Saul and the apostles.
New Christians (especially those with tarnished reputations) need sponsors, people who will come alongside to encourage them, teach them, and introduce them to other believers.
By guiding and mentoring those who are young in the faith, we help them establish a new identity as followers of Christ. Find a new believer in your church who needs practical help and encouragement in growing. Become a Barnabas to that person".
And thus:
"And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord."
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Post by Cindy on Mar 11, 2019 11:42:14 GMT -5
Oh I didn't know there was another one.
Yes, I will do it, but I will start tomorrow because today I have to go to doctor, shopping with Leonard, take Hossanah to work with him, hang out with Devon etc.
So I will do Acts again today ( probably shortish, cuz I also have to get ready)
And I will start the imperishable beauty study tomorrow. Acts 9:26-28
"When he came to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple"
Well, I can personally understand why. I can see how they might even think, he would pretend to be a believer for awhile ( years even), in hopes of catching even more.
Still, even so, I am thinking,
it might have been a good time to speak to him,
in hopes of God converting him ....
( even tho he was already saved but if they did not believe it....
I am just saying, if ever anyone we suspect of pretending to be a Christian for some nefarious reason,
rather than avoid him or her,
perhaps we are called to treat them as if they were saved,
or at least, talk freely about the good news).
Peterson comments that:
"Even believers who have seen the power of God at work in their own lives can doubt God’s ability to change others. It is also true that, ‘this shows a misdirected fear of the persecutor rather than God"
Ans so there was one, who did just that ( believed in the power of God in Saul/Paul's life)
"But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus".
Bruce Barton - "It is difficult to change one’s reputation, and Saul had a terrible reputation with the Christians. But Barnabas, a Jewish convert , became the bridge between Saul and the apostles.
New Christians (especially those with tarnished reputations) need sponsors, people who will come alongside to encourage them, teach them, and introduce them to other believers.
By guiding and mentoring those who are young in the faith, we help them establish a new identity as followers of Christ. Find a new believer in your church who needs practical help and encouragement in growing. Become a Barnabas to that person".
And thus:
"And he was with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem, speaking out boldly in the name of the Lord."
As far as treating someone as though they're saved because they say so goes, we should do that if they act like they've been saved (as far as we know), but if they don't, and their salvation wasn't just the other day, then we need to use common sense and tell them why we have doubts and then tell them the true gospel so they can be really saved. If we do that, and they say they already know all that, well, all we can do then is pray for them and hope they really are saved, and leave it in God's hands.
Sadly, today the church has really fallen down on the job as it's just about impossible for a person to find someone to disciple them or to be an accountability partner or a "mentor' as the one person put it. Yet that's one of the most important things of all that we need when we're saved. It seems like people got so lazy once we were allowed to worship freely and without fear, that they began to expect the Pastor to do everything, and began thinking that simply "going to church" was all the discipling anyone needed, etc. and that's so wrong! One of the things I look forward to in the millennial kingdom is seeing how the church should have worked, and I really look forward to worshiping God then and through eternity too! It's due to the lack of discipling etc that so many aren't really saved, and those who are don't know their true identity in Christ and are still living as victims. We can see too that today the church as an institution is really mixed up. It wasn't intended to be a place where people came to be saved. (sinners don't look for God or want to know Him!) It was intended to be a place where believers were nourished in God's Word, and where they could join in joyous worship of our Lord together, and pray for each other. It's where believers should be held accountable to each other and discipline meted out when needed, to keep the body of Christ strong and healthy. And where believers are taught how to bring others to Christ, and when they have, bring them to church so they can grow in their new faith.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 11, 2019 12:11:32 GMT -5
Thank you as always for your helpful comments!!! :-)
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 24, 2019 10:28:36 GMT -5
I am back here today.
Acts 9:29
" And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death".
I see more and more (or at least it seems so to me) that people can no longer debate or have opposing exchange or ideas, but rather, it seems if you say something another does not agree with, instead of presenting a logical well thought out defensive of what they believe, instead, they go 'directly' to violence.
But, apparently, its not really new, as we see in this verse, because the Pharisees and scribes 'argued' with Jesus and the Jews with Stephen, while all the while plotting their deaths ( and of course, many of the prophets in the past as well).
v. 30 "When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus".
I have often thought the avoidance of trouble was being a coward ( thinking of myself) by then Paul ( who was no coward) and even Jesus left on one occasion.
v. 31 "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers".
Since Paul was no longer rounding up the believers, they enjoyed a time of peace and with that peace came increase in believers.
There is a difference between fear that is terrified on the one hand and a flippant, disrespectful, superficial attitude towards God.
The fear of the Lord is to worship Him and want to please Him. If we do not reverence the Lord, ( or 'fear') Him, we are way more apt to do whatever we please and sin.
A true fear, hates the Evil God hates and loves what He loves. We hate the sin in ourselves. We hate false doctrine that leads so many to Hell. We are in awe and love the God that loves us ( who was willing to die for us) and yet, we recognize He is Holy, all powerful, all knowing, infinite and eternal, Creator of everything, and a Father God who loves us.
Also the church was encouraged by God the Holy Spirit, so with the peace and the Holy Spirit's encouragement, the church grew.
(
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Post by Cindy on Mar 25, 2019 11:44:05 GMT -5
I am back here today.
Acts 9:29
" And he was talking and arguing with the Hellenistic Jews; but they were attempting to put him to death".
I see more and more (or at least it seems so to me) that people can no longer debate or have opposing exchange or ideas, but rather, it seems if you say something another does not agree with, instead of presenting a logical well thought out defensive of what they believe, instead, they go 'directly' to violence.
But, apparently, its not really new, as we see in this verse, because the Pharisees and scribes 'argued' with Jesus and the Jews with Stephen, while all the while plotting their deaths ( and of course, many of the prophets in the past as well).
v. 30 "When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus".
I have often thought the avoidance of trouble was being a coward ( thinking of myself) by then Paul ( who was no coward) and even Jesus left on one occasion.
v. 31 "Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers".
Since Paul was no longer rounding up the believers, they enjoyed a time of peace and with that peace came increase in believers.
There is a difference between fear that is terrified on the one hand and a flippant, disrespectful, superficial attitude towards God.
The fear of the Lord is to worship Him and want to please Him. If we do not reverence the Lord, ( or 'fear') Him, we are way more apt to do whatever we please and sin.
A true fear, hates the Evil God hates and loves what He loves. We hate the sin in ourselves. We hate false doctrine that leads so many to Hell. We are in awe and love the God that loves us ( who was willing to die for us) and yet, we recognize He is Holy, all powerful, all knowing, infinite and eternal, Creator of everything, and a Father God who loves us.
Also the church was encouraged by God the Holy Spirit, so with the peace and the Holy Spirit's encouragement, the church grew.
(
Of course I double checked that to be sure this was the time Acts 22 was speaking about since Paul was in Jerusalem more then once, and it is correct. So the Lord told him that these people wouldn't accept the truth so he shouldn't waste his time on them. That brings to mind some other verses doesn't it? ““Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6) So what Jesus told him agrees with what He said in Matthew. And that's a command to us as well. We have to be able to discern when speaking to someone is worthwhile or if it's a waste of time. God tells us that our time here is "precious" and we shouldn't waste it. (proverbs I think)
One easy way to tell this is if a person is constantly arguing or asking argumentative questions and never agreeing with the Truth once you've explained it. Or perhaps they say they agree, but then later come back with another so called question about it that shows they really don't agree, and are simply looking for ways to argue about it. Such as people who post in apologetics for months and literally years speaking to the same person or people, over and over and over, and getting absolutely nowhere. That is a huge waste of time that Jesus does not agree with. They are throwing their pearls to pigs,. Worse, the people they're talking to are there because they want to harm those who are speaking the truth to them, and they don't seem to realize that. Sadly some of them do wind up harmed and begin to doubt their own faith! All because they didn't do what Jesus told us to do, and stop talking to them. This is why I stopped posting in apologetics.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong about answering questions about doctrine to someone who truly wants to know the answer, or who simply doesn't get it. But if their purpose is to argue about doctrine, then it's something to avoid for it doesn't help anyone.
Concerning the church having a time of peace; it's interesting to note that at this time the church consisted only of Jews, half Jews (the Samaritans) and and proselytes to Judaism who became Christians. The only Gentile in the Church at that time was the eunuch from Ethiopia what Phillip baptized. The Jews were very angry at Paul and his ministry to non Jews, so when he left, and they could no longer argue with him, there was peace in the Church for a time. Of course it also helped that he wasn't persecuting them any longer, as you said.
I thought this was interesting too. Notice the places Jesus named and the places mentioned in this verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8)
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” (Acts 9:31) And they were in Jerusalem when this is said!
Amen! You did well!
Brother Mark hope we didn't lose you! Sorry our other study took so long, but it's finally finished so we'll be here now!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 25, 2019 13:37:16 GMT -5
Acts 9:32-35
v.32 "As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.
v.33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
v.34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
v.35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord".
Aeneas
Now scripture shifts to Peter. His being in Lydda, points to the spreading of the gospel. Peter healed one man named Aeneas, but it affected many more people.
Somehow ( did the Holy Spirit lead Peter to him) Peter found Aeneas. It is for certain Aeneas did go searching for Peter because he had been bedridden for 8 years.
Peter tells Aeneas that Jesus heals him. Peter did not take any credit at all for the healing, and rightly so.
Peter then said:
"Get up and make your bed"
One commentator joked: :don't you wish this would work as well with your teenagers in the morning! Sometimes it seems like you need a miracle to rouse them to get ready for school!
Or
as Steven Cole puts it "Those of you with teenagers know just how impossible that command is, unless the Lord grants the power!"
LOL
In any case, having gotten a blessing, he is immediately to do something.
This miracle was not just for Aeneas, people saw him, and the message was that Jesus healed Aeneas. Only God can perform such a miracle, and that convicted many.
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Post by Brother Mark on Mar 26, 2019 5:54:49 GMT -5
No you have not lost me . I will make the time over the next few days to catch up.
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Post by Cindy on Mar 26, 2019 9:47:36 GMT -5
Acts 9:32-35
v.32 "As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda.
v.33 There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.
v.34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.
v.35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord".
Aeneas
Now scripture shifts to Peter. His being in Lydda, points to the spreading of the gospel. Peter healed one man named Aeneas, but it affected many more people.
Somehow ( did the Holy Spirit lead Peter to him) Peter found Aeneas. It is for certain Aeneas did go searching for Peter because he had been bedridden for 8 years.
Peter tells Aeneas that Jesus heals him. Peter did not take any credit at all for the healing, and rightly so.
Peter then said:
"Get up and make your bed"
One commentator joked: :don't you wish this would work as well with your teenagers in the morning! Sometimes it seems like you need a miracle to rouse them to get ready for school!
Or
as Steven Cole puts it "Those of you with teenagers know just how impossible that command is, unless the Lord grants the power!"
LOL
In any case, having gotten a blessing, he is immediately to do something.
This miracle was not just for Aeneas, people saw him, and the message was that Jesus healed Aeneas. Only God can perform such a miracle, and that convicted many.
By the way, the reason there were saints in Lydda is because Phillip had been in that area previously, and of course there may have been people from there present at the first pentecost when Peter preached. Today it's called Lod and Israel’s international airport is just north of the city. It's about 25 miles from Jerusalem.
“As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda.” (Acts 9:32) This is also an interesting verse, because Peter didn't go to a bunch of people's homes to visit them. He went to one home and met them there. This is what Jesus had told them to do originally, if you recall: ““Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave.” (Matthew 10:11) So this tells us a couple of things. First that the people he visited were saints, in other words, fellow believers. Secondly it shows us again that to be a saint, means to be in a community of believers. God didn't and doesn't intend us to walk this road alone. That's why He made us part of His family. He wants us to be family even here in this life, not just in the next one. Even when Jesus was sending out His disciples to preach, He sent them two by two, and never alone. And wherever they went, once people were saved, they called the believers to meet together.
Interestingly, “who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed” is the most common interpretation of this Greek phrase. However, the phrase can mean “who had been bedridden since eight years old, for he was paralyzed” which makes a little bit of a difference - at least to Aeneas! We can be quite sure the Holy Spirit was the one who arranged Peter to meet Aeneas, as that's one of the things He does - He brings the unsaved to the perfect person to plant a seed or heal them or to tell them the gospel, etc. so they can be saved. Since he wasn't saved before this happened, we can know the Holy Spirit arranged the meeting.
Miracles are always to show that God has approved the message and the person speaking it. He's letting people know that their message is true and from Him. So when he told them about Jesus, they could believe it knowing that God had sent him.
But Satan can also work miracles, and he does. That's why we have to be discerning even of miracles. This is how Satan will fool many people during the tribulation.
That's cute about teenagers 
No you have not lost me . I will make the time over the next few days to catch up. |
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 26, 2019 12:05:03 GMT -5
yeah Mark super glad to hear it!!!!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 26, 2019 14:21:50 GMT -5
Acts 9:36-43
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
v. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
v. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
v. 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
v.40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
v. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
v.42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
v,43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Now the scriptures talk about Tabitha, who was a disciple of Jesus, determined to be as much like her Lord as possible. She was 'always' doing good and helping the poor.....what a great example! She did not do good deeds every now and then, but it says always, which implies over and over again.
She reminds me of the verse in Matthew 25:43
"I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’"....ONLY...she did do these things Jesus spoke of.
However, she grew sick and died.....BUT
Peter 'just happened' to be nearby...which was the plan of God.
Still even such godly Christians die.
In any case the disciples sent for Peter to come quickly, and he did so.
The woman were mourning her, but I sincerely doubt they were professional mourners, but rather truly out of a sense of loss for this servant minded/heart godly woman.
But what peter does, instantly reminded me of what Jesus did, and even said when he raised Jairus' daughter.
He sent the people out ( not wanting to make a big show and gain the glory for himself, like many 'so called' faith healers do).
And as with anything, prayer needs to be first, and so Peter prayed.
All believers were once 'dead' also, in sin and we too were raised to spiritual life, Tabitha in this case, is raised physically from death.
Again, many came to a saving faith in Christ.
Then Peter stayed in Joppa with a tanner ( considered unclean by Jews),
no doubt to minister to the new believers.
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Post by Cindy on Mar 27, 2019 10:37:53 GMT -5
Acts 9:36-43
Acts 9:36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor.
v. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.
v. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”
v. 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.
v.40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.
v. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.
v.42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
v,43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.
Now the scriptures talk about Tabitha, who was a disciple of Jesus, determined to be as much like her Lord as possible. She was 'always' doing good and helping the poor.....what a great example! She did not do good deeds every now and then, but it says always, which implies over and over again.
She reminds me of the verse in Matthew 25:43
"I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’"....ONLY...she did do these things Jesus spoke of.
However, she grew sick and died.....BUT
Peter 'just happened' to be nearby...which was the plan of God.
Still even such godly Christians die.
In any case the disciples sent for Peter to come quickly, and he did so.
The woman were mourning her, but I sincerely doubt they were professional mourners, but rather truly out of a sense of loss for this servant minded/heart godly woman.
But what peter does, instantly reminded me of what Jesus did, and even said when he raised Jairus' daughter.
He sent the people out ( not wanting to make a big show and gain the glory for himself, like many 'so called' faith healers do).
And as with anything, prayer needs to be first, and so Peter prayed.
All believers were once 'dead' also, in sin and we too were raised to spiritual life, Tabitha in this case, is raised physically from death.
Again, many came to a saving faith in Christ.
Then Peter stayed in Joppa with a tanner ( considered unclean by Jews),
no doubt to minister to the new believers.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 27, 2019 12:49:32 GMT -5
I love your reminder about faith soooo much. From time to time, I still will have a moment of doubt...
am I really saved kind of thing, and it is always because, I am thinking 'I' don't have faith
I keep forgetting it is not faith that I need to cook up or drag from some inner part of my being, but it is a 'gift' from God like you said.
And yes, my faith can be increased by obedience ( and it is)....but your writing about that was so encouraging ( today, I was not struggling but I did have a bout a few days ago for a short while....so your uplifting words were great timing.....
Because when that happens, I do sometimes fear, if it will come back to bite me again soon.
So thank you so much for saying what I knew but still, very much need a refreshing reminder, because as you know, that is one of the things the enemy will try to get me to despair about every now and then.
I do know to take my thoughts captive, but it can be a real struggle/war when it does happen.....so this was like a preparation (just in case its still lurking somewhere to jump out and try to steal my joy).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 27, 2019 13:59:23 GMT -5
Acts 10:1-8
v.1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
v.2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
v. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
v.4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
v.5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
v. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
v.7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. v.8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Cornelius was in command of 100 soldiers (centurion).
Cornelius was a gentile who feared God, was devout, and had many other 'good' traits ( a moral life,generous, prayerful etc.) but nevertheless even great traits do not save a person.
Yet God was ( and is) gracious and will draw a man ( or woman) to believing faith.
And Cornelius 'distinctly' saw an angel. This was not some wishy-washy, maybe.. I saw something, dream-like, figment of his imagination...type of vision,
no it says he clearly saw the angel, it was a supernatural vision.
it is not really surprising that any human ( no matter how battle hardened they might be) would be fearful of a vision of an angel.
However it was not because Cornelius had done so many good things, but that he was truly seeking God, that his prayers were answered.
His giving to the poor etc didn't save him, but God took note of them.
The angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter who was staying with Simon the tanner.
It's kind of interesting that Peter would even do that.
Cornelius acts promptly and obeys what God's angel (his superior) told him to do.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 28, 2019 11:41:54 GMT -5
Acts 10:9-23
Peter’s Vision
v.9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
v. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
v.11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
v.12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
v.13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
v.14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
Now we look at Peter's vision.
In addition, how wonderful God is, and how He can arrange whatever he chooses to happen, in amazing ways.
In both cases obedience was shown.
Peter had gone to the housetop to pray ( as an aside, any time is a good time to pray :-)
But then Peter became hungry, for some reason, that strikes me as a little bit funny ( tho maybe he was fasting, or he started smelling great food being cooked, his mind wandered etc.)
So, God uses the food, as the basis for the vision.
Something 'like' a large sheet was lowered, in it was an assortment of animals,
kosher and non-kosher.
(Which seems or could be symbolic of Jews and Gentiles)
God commands Peter to kill and eat.
Peter protests....in horror and pride ( it seems to me).
Tho Peter was a 'born again' man, he still had a few sins that lingered on like telling the Lord NO, bigotry, and hanging onto the dietary laws.
Several commentators pointed out that No so Lord
Spurgeon: "Not so Lord, is an odd jumble of self-will and reverence, of pride and humility, of contradiction and devotion. Surely, when you say, “No,” it ought not to be said to the Lord, and if you say, “Lord,” you ought not to put side by side the word no....."
Another said:
"It is either 'Not so'
or
it is 'Lord.'
Cross out the words 'not so' and leave the word 'Lord,'
or
cross out the word 'Lord' and leave the words 'not so.'
You cannot have it both ways." (John Phillips)
The dietary laws were one of the main differences between Jews and Gentiles....others were circumcision, Sabbath etc.
Peter shows his 'superior' legalistic attitude with pride.
I slept about 1/2 hour last night. I was wanting to do more, but I keep nodding asleep and waking right back up,
but I am very tired
so I will stop
and pick the rest of this about peter up tomorrow
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Post by Cindy on Mar 28, 2019 12:06:09 GMT -5
Before we get started, I have to tell you about a short little book I'm just finishing reading. It's short, and only takes a little over 2 hours to read, but I'm reading it very slowly because it's so important. It's by Spurgeon and is called, Come Ye Children (Updated, Annotated): Obtaining Our Lord's Heart for Loving and Teaching Children. I'll be using a lot of what he says to pray for my children and grandchildren as well as to be sure I've taught them those things. That made me think of you and your grandchildren, so I thought you might like it as well. You can get it free on Amazon. If you keep it, you'll always have it to refresh your memory too!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0795B37F1/?coliid=ISVRVMTECZBJ&colid=30ZVNC4AZGGBP&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_itI love your reminder about faith soooo much. From time to time, I still will have a moment of doubt...
am I really saved kind of thing, and it is always because, I am thinking 'I' don't have faith
I keep forgetting it is not faith that I need to cook up or drag from some inner part of my being, but it is a 'gift' from God like you said.
And yes, my faith can be increased by obedience ( and it is)....but your writing about that was so encouraging ( today, I was not struggling but I did have a bout a few days ago for a short while....so your uplifting words were great timing.....
Because when that happens, I do sometimes fear, if it will come back to bite me again soon.
So thank you so much for saying what I knew but still, very much need a refreshing reminder, because as you know, that is one of the things the enemy will try to get me to despair about every now and then.
I do know to take my thoughts captive, but it can be a real struggle/war when it does happen.....so this was like a preparation (just in case its still lurking somewhere to jump out and try to steal my joy).
Have you ever noticed what might cause those bouts of doubt? For instance, did anything happen that day or the day before that might have caused it? Did you spend as much time in God's Word that day (or the day before) as usual? Were you in more pain then usual, or more tired then usual, or sicker than usual? Did someone say something to you that hurt your feelings, or caused you to doubt if you'd done the right thing? (Just throwing out ideas to try and help you pin down what Satan is using to try and get you to believe his lies again). Do you remember which day it was? Monday the 25th or Sunday the 24th? (that's the day you started back on Acts again) or Saturday the 23rd? or another day? Look at what you did for a bible study whichever day it was, and maybe that will jog your memory of what happened that day, how you were feeling, etc. If we can pinpoint the cause, we can get rid of it so that it can't be used against you again.
Acts 10:1-8
v.1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
v.2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
v. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
v.4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.
v.5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.
v. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
v.7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. v.8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Cornelius was in command of 100 soldiers (centurion).
Cornelius was a gentile who feared God, was devout, and had many other 'good' traits ( a moral life,generous, prayerful etc.) but nevertheless even great traits do not save a person.
Yet God was ( and is) gracious and will draw a man ( or woman) to believing faith.
And Cornelius 'distinctly' saw an angel. This was not some wishy-washy, maybe.. I saw something, dream-like, figment of his imagination...type of vision,
no it says he clearly saw the angel, it was a supernatural vision.
it is not really surprising that any human ( no matter how battle hardened they might be) would be fearful of a vision of an angel.
However it was not because Cornelius had done so many good things, but that he was truly seeking God, that his prayers were answered.
His giving to the poor etc didn't save him, but God took note of them.
The angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter who was staying with Simon the tanner.
It's kind of interesting that Peter would even do that.
Cornelius acts promptly and obeys what God's angel (his superior) told him to do.
Good!
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, (Acts 10:1) Yes, a Centurion commanded 100 men, and the cohort had 1000 men. So he was one of 10 commanders of 100 men each in this cohort, or legion. A pretty important man.
When the Bible says that a Gentile "feared God" it means that he was called "a God fearer" and was a Gentile proselyte to Judaism but hadn't been circumcised yet. They would even attend the synagogue and go to the temple in the court of the Gentiles.
Notice when speaking of his faith, it doesn't just speak of him; it says, "he and all his family" It shows the cultural context that the faith of the father was always the faith of the household which would include the servants.
We're told he saw this angel about 3 in the afternoon, which was one of the regular times that the Jews had prayer. So Cornelius had been in prayer just before this happened; which we're told he did regularly.
I like how you pointed out that it was not because Cornelius had done so many good things, but that he was truly seeking God, that his prayers were answered. That's really the bottom line - God tells us that those who seek Him with all their hearts and minds will find Him. That's what Cornelius had been doing and still was doing when the angel appeared. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) (that's a great verse to pray for our grandchildren - that the Lord would cause them to seek Him with all their hearts!)
But why would God want him to find Peter who was 30 miles away when Phillip was already in Caesarea? (Acts 8:40) He wanted him to get Peter because it was Peter who had been given the “keys to the kingdom.” “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”” (Matthew 16:18–19) The keys represent authority, and Peter was about to open the Kingdom to the Gentiles! Because this wouldn't go over very well with the Jew's, God wanted everything done properly and in a way they couldn't refute! (later, Jesus gave all the disciples the keys etc and shows that they are also given to all believers as well; for we are all to be His witnesses and make new disciples!)
To me this story also shows again the lengths God will go to in order to save a person, just as the story about the eunuch did. How can we doubt that God will save our loved ones when we read things like this? As awful as the world is today, if God could protect the minds and hearts of the women who would become the wives of Noah's sons, He can do that for our loved ones as well. If He's willing to "beam someone over many miles" to they can appear to another person to tell them about Jesus, He certainly isn't going to miss having our loved ones know about Him. If He will send an angel to instruct another person how to find the path of salvation, He can surely do that for our loved ones as well. He does whatever it takes to save those who belong to Him. I honestly believe too that everyone who has someone to pray for their salvation, is saved, for that's God's Will and He says many times that He will give us whatever is according to His Will. Note too in the stories that prayer and God's Word are always a part of it somehow. So these should encourage us to keep praying, no matter how many years it takes! For it will be done! In fact, I've felt led lately to stop praying for their salvation and instead start praising God and thanking Him for their salvation instead. (I'm still praying, but instead of pleading, I'm praising.)
But notice that the vision is incomplete in that he isn't told why God wants him to send for Peter. In the next part, Peter isn't told why he's been shown the vision of clean and unclean animals and told that they're all clean now. They both have to wait until after they've obeyed God - Cornelius sending for Peter, and Peter going to him, to discover their answers. Answers generally only come after obedience! We don't get to know "why" first, most of the time!
I do have a question for you though. You said: The angel tells Cornelius to send for Peter who was staying with Simon the tanner. It's kind of interesting that Peter would even do that. It's interesting that Peter would do what?
I loved what Wiersbe said about the fear of the Lord too:
“The fear of our God” is not the servile dread of a slave toward a master but the loving respect of a child toward a parent. To fear the Lord means to seek to glorify God in everything we do. It means listening to His Word, honoring it, & obeying it. The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. To walk in the fear of God means to walk by faith, trusting God to deal with your enemies & one day balance the accounts. It means claiming Matthew 6:33 & having the right priorities in life. “The fear of the Lord leads to life, & he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil” (Prov. 19:23). Be Determined.
I sure wish you'd done the next part as well! I love this story! The angels must have been so excited to discover that the Gentiles were being saved too!
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 28, 2019 13:54:58 GMT -5
First, I got the book, thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much. I will be excited to read it!!!!!!!
Second, this time ( as I think usually happens when doubt strikes, has to do with a sin I committed, and yes, also as a minor aspect very tired and some physical pain.
Oh what I meant about Peter staying with Simon the tanner ( and especially since Peter still seems to have a somewhat bigoted attitude about Gentiles.....
I read that a tanner for a devote Jew, was a super unclean person (handling dead animals).
I know Peter was born again and greatly changed, but he still had some sins ( like we all do)....but I wondered he chose to stay with a tanner ( even if Simon was a believer, which I think he was).
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 29, 2019 11:15:50 GMT -5
Weird this got put up again ( I mean not like my latest post,
but like it were a couple of days ago....
it's done that a couple of times now,
strange ....so anyway, I am posting it again so you will see it....this was done yesterday tho.
Acts 10:9-14
Peter’s Vision
v.9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
v. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
v.11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
v.12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
v.13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
v.14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
Now we look at Peter's vision.
In addition, how wonderful God is, and how He can arrange whatever he chooses to happen, in amazing ways.
In both cases obedience was shown.
Peter had gone to the housetop to pray ( as an aside, any time is a good time to pray :-)
But then Peter became hungry, for some reason, that strikes me as a little bit funny ( tho maybe he was fasting, or he started smelling great food being cooked, his mind wandered etc.)
So, God uses the food, as the basis for the vision.
Something 'like' a large sheet was lowered, in it was an assortment of animals,
kosher and non-kosher.
(Which seems or could be symbolic of Jews and Gentiles)
God commands Peter to kill and eat.
Peter protests....in horror and pride ( it seems to me).
Tho Peter was a 'born again' man, he still had a few sins that lingered on like telling the Lord NO, bigotry, and hanging onto the dietary laws.
Several commentators pointed out that No so Lord
Spurgeon: "Not so Lord, is an odd jumble of self-will and reverence, of pride and humility, of contradiction and devotion. Surely, when you say, “No,” it ought not to be said to the Lord, and if you say, “Lord,” you ought not to put side by side the word no....."
Another said:
"It is either 'Not so'
or
it is 'Lord.'
Cross out the words 'not so' and leave the word 'Lord,'
or
cross out the word 'Lord' and leave the words 'not so.'
You cannot have it both ways." (John Phillips)
The dietary laws were one of the main differences between Jews and Gentiles....others were circumcision, Sabbath etc.
Peter shows his 'superior' legalistic attitude with pride.
I slept about 1/2 hour last night. I was wanting to do more, but I keep nodding asleep and waking right back up,
but I am very tired
so I will stop
and pick the rest of this about peter up tomorrow
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 29, 2019 11:30:04 GMT -5
Acts 10:15-23
v.15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
v.16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
v.17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate.
v.18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
v.19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.
v.20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
v.21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
v.22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”
v. 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
But now God tells Peter that He (God ) can and has made all foods clean
( and thus by implication God can do the same even with Gentiles).
That it happened 3 times shows how deeply entrenched Peter's beliefs/prejudices were.....because God was about to have Peter meet an 'unclean' gentile. God has to change Peter's heart.
As one commentator said about it taking 3 times to convict Peter:
Doubting God is the rebellion of Eden ( and from time to time, all people struggle with it).
Well, even after Peter stopped disagreeing with God, he was perplexed at what it meant.
However, in this case, it did not take long for God to show Peter ( sometimes we have to pray and wait, but in this case, not so much).
God The Holy Spirit tells Peter that 3 men were looking for him.
What is important is are we going to obey?
Peter is told: "So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them"
So Peter is not to doubt, second guess, be afraid etc.
Peter Obeyed.
He does as why they have come and they tell him.
Peter invites them in and shows them hospitality, and the next day, he leaves with them.
I wonder what Simon the tanner thought, if Peter said to him: "Guess who is comming to dinner?" LOL
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Post by Cindy on Mar 29, 2019 11:44:16 GMT -5
Acts 10:9-23
Peter’s Vision
v.9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
v. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
v.11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
v.12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
v.13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
v.14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
Now we look at Peter's vision.
In addition, how wonderful God is, and how He can arrange whatever he chooses to happen, in amazing ways.
In both cases obedience was shown.
Peter had gone to the housetop to pray ( as an aside, any time is a good time to pray :-)
But then Peter became hungry, for some reason, that strikes me as a little bit funny ( tho maybe he was fasting, or he started smelling great food being cooked, his mind wandered etc.)
So, God uses the food, as the basis for the vision.
Something 'like' a large sheet was lowered, in it was an assortment of animals,
kosher and non-kosher.
(Which seems or could be symbolic of Jews and Gentiles)
God commands Peter to kill and eat.
Peter protests....in horror and pride ( it seems to me).
Tho Peter was a 'born again' man, he still had a few sins that lingered on like telling the Lord NO, bigotry, and hanging onto the dietary laws.
Several commentators pointed out that No so Lord
Spurgeon: "Not so Lord, is an odd jumble of self-will and reverence, of pride and humility, of contradiction and devotion. Surely, when you say, “No,” it ought not to be said to the Lord, and if you say, “Lord,” you ought not to put side by side the word no....."
Another said:
"It is either 'Not so'
or
it is 'Lord.'
Cross out the words 'not so' and leave the word 'Lord,'
or
cross out the word 'Lord' and leave the words 'not so.'
You cannot have it both ways." (John Phillips)
The dietary laws were one of the main differences between Jews and Gentiles....others were circumcision, Sabbath etc.
Peter shows his 'superior' legalistic attitude with pride.
I slept about 1/2 hour last night. I was wanting to do more, but I keep nodding asleep and waking right back up,
but I am very tired
so I will stop
and pick the rest of this about peter up tomorrow
Why did God use a vision about food to teach Peter that the Gentiles were not unclean? For one thing, Peter was hungry, and a vision about food would certainly “speak to his condition,” as the Quakers say. Second, the distinction between “clean and unclean foods” was a major problem between the Jews and the Gentiles in that day. In fact, Peter’s Christian friends criticized him for eating with the Gentiles! (Acts 11:1–3) God used this centuries-old regulation (Lev. 11) to teach Peter an important spiritual lesson. A third reason goes back to something Jesus had taught Peter and the other disciples when He was ministering on earth (Mark 7:1–23). ““Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”) He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”” (Mark 7:18–23) At that time, Peter did not fully understand what Jesus was saying, but now it would all come together. God was not simply changing Peter’s diet; He was changing His entire program! The Jew was not “clean” and the Gentile “unclean,” but both Jew and Gentile were “unclean” before God! “For God has bound all men over to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all” (Rom. 11:32). This meant that a Gentile did not have to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. The Bible exposition commentary
First, I got the book, thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much. I will be excited to read it!!!!!!!
Second, this time ( as I think usually happens when doubt strikes, has to do with a sin I committed, and yes, also as a minor aspect very tired and some physical pain.
Oh what I meant about Peter staying with Simon the tanner ( and especially since Peter still seems to have a somewhat bigoted attitude about Gentiles.....
I read that a tanner for a devote Jew, was a super unclean person (handling dead animals).
I know Peter was born again and greatly changed, but he still had some sins ( like we all do)....but I wondered he chose to stay with a tanner ( even if Simon was a believer, which I think he was).
I wanted to point out before the other times Peter used “the keys of the kingdom.” He'd opened the door of faith for the Jews in Acts 2, then for the Samaritans in Acts 8, & now he would be opening it to bring the Gentiles into the church.
I didn't realize you were talking about Peter staying with the tanner. I think that Peter was already losing some of the more legalistic dividing laws of the Jews by this time. He was ready to hear what God was about to tell him, or the Lord wouldn't have told him yet. God always prepares us for what He has for us to learn. He doesn't just drop it on us like a bomb shell lol. So Peter had already done away with things that divided Jew's from other Jews. Now he was ready to be told that he didn't need to divide himself from Gentiles either.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 30, 2019 13:29:31 GMT -5
Acts 10:23-33
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. v.24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
v.25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
v.26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
v.27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
v. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
v.29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
v.30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me
v.31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. v.32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
v.33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
Scripture now takes up concerning what happened when Peter gets to Cornelius home.
Cornelius was prepared for a message from Peter ( from God) and he invited others to hear the good news also.
However when Cornelius met Peter he did not understand that no man should be worshiped
( well except for Jesus, who was both 100% man and 100% God). Peter quickly corrects Cornelius.
Peter says: Stand up, I am just a man.
However, there are many in 'religions', entertainment, business, government, etc etc. who would be wise to say the same.
For example, Peter did not say, oh and you may kiss my ring also.
As one commentator put it, so Peter entered a room full of "untouchables" ( in the way he always used to think). But thru the vision from God, Peter has learned that God is no respecter or persons.
Yet Peter kind of alludes to it anyway, by starting off saying: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile".
He was honest about his prejudice, but not exactly what I would call tactful ( tho I am not sure how anyone could tactfully say, I have never entered a Gentile home before because I always thought they were like dirty dogs or pigs even).
Nevertheless Peter came because God told him to, and he asks Cornelius why was he (Peter) asked to come.
So Cornelius recounts his vision of how God drew him, answered his prayer, and told him what to do.
Cornelius thanks Peter for coming and tells Peter they are ready to hear what he has to say.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
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Post by fearnot on Mar 31, 2019 19:56:56 GMT -5
Acts 10:34-38
v.34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
v.35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
v.36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
v.37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
v.38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him".
( I manage to lose everything again and so....here is the super condensed version. sigh)
Then Peter finally gets that God intended His church to be comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, that God does not show favoritism.
God is will to accept all who worship him and does good.
Peter talks about the gospel, the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He goes on to speak of John's baptism of repentance.
From that Peter goes on to talk about Jesus. And of course Jesus is stronger than the devil.
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Post by Cindy on Apr 1, 2019 10:38:19 GMT -5
It's not weird lol, I saw your post and replied to it. I even explained what had most likely happened. All you have to do is look at the time stamp to see that we were both posting at the same time. I was posting my previous reply while you were posting this, which is why I didn't see it until after I posted my reply.
Acts 10:9-23
Peter’s Vision
v.9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.
v. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.
v.11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.
v.12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds.
v.13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
v.14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
Now we look at Peter's vision.
In addition, how wonderful God is, and how He can arrange whatever he chooses to happen, in amazing ways.
In both cases obedience was shown.
Peter had gone to the housetop to pray ( as an aside, any time is a good time to pray :-)
But then Peter became hungry, for some reason, that strikes me as a little bit funny ( tho maybe he was fasting, or he started smelling great food being cooked, his mind wandered etc.)
So, God uses the food, as the basis for the vision.
Something 'like' a large sheet was lowered, in it was an assortment of animals,
kosher and non-kosher.
(Which seems or could be symbolic of Jews and Gentiles)
God commands Peter to kill and eat.
Peter protests....in horror and pride ( it seems to me).
Tho Peter was a 'born again' man, he still had a few sins that lingered on like telling the Lord NO, bigotry, and hanging onto the dietary laws.
Several commentators pointed out that No so Lord
Spurgeon: "Not so Lord, is an odd jumble of self-will and reverence, of pride and humility, of contradiction and devotion. Surely, when you say, “No,” it ought not to be said to the Lord, and if you say, “Lord,” you ought not to put side by side the word no....."
Another said:
"It is either 'Not so'
or
it is 'Lord.'
Cross out the words 'not so' and leave the word 'Lord,'
or
cross out the word 'Lord' and leave the words 'not so.'
You cannot have it both ways." (John Phillips)
The dietary laws were one of the main differences between Jews and Gentiles....others were circumcision, Sabbath etc.
Peter shows his 'superior' legalistic attitude with pride.
I slept about 1/2 hour last night. I was wanting to do more, but I keep nodding asleep and waking right back up,
but I am very tired
so I will stop
and pick the rest of this about peter up tomorrow
Why did God use a vision about food to teach Peter that the Gentiles were not unclean? For one thing, Peter was hungry, and a vision about food would certainly “speak to his condition,” as the Quakers say. Second, the distinction between “clean and unclean foods” was a major problem between the Jews and the Gentiles in that day. In fact, Peter’s Christian friends criticized him for eating with the Gentiles! (Acts 11:1–3) God used this centuries-old regulation (Lev. 11) to teach Peter an important spiritual lesson. A third reason goes back to something Jesus had taught Peter and the other disciples when He was ministering on earth (Mark 7:1–23). ““Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”) He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’ ”” (Mark 7:18–23) At that time, Peter did not fully understand what Jesus was saying, but now it would all come together. God was not simply changing Peter’s diet; He was changing His entire program! The Jew was not “clean” and the Gentile “unclean,” but both Jew and Gentile were “unclean” before God! “For God has bound all men over to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all” (Rom. 11:32). This meant that a Gentile did not have to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. The Bible exposition commentary
First, I got the book, thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo much. I will be excited to read it!!!!!!!
Second, this time ( as I think usually happens when doubt strikes, has to do with a sin I committed, and yes, also as a minor aspect very tired and some physical pain.
Oh what I meant about Peter staying with Simon the tanner ( and especially since Peter still seems to have a somewhat bigoted attitude about Gentiles.....
I read that a tanner for a devote Jew, was a super unclean person (handling dead animals).
I know Peter was born again and greatly changed, but he still had some sins ( like we all do)....but I wondered he chose to stay with a tanner ( even if Simon was a believer, which I think he was).
I wanted to point out before the other times Peter used “the keys of the kingdom.” He'd opened the door of faith for the Jews in Acts 2, then for the Samaritans in Acts 8, & now he would be opening it to bring the Gentiles into the church.
I didn't realize you were talking about Peter staying with the tanner. I think that Peter was already losing some of the more legalistic dividing laws of the Jews by this time. He was ready to hear what God was about to tell him, or the Lord wouldn't have told him yet. God always prepares us for what He has for us to learn. He doesn't just drop it on us like a bomb shell lol. So Peter had already done away with things that divided Jew's from other Jews. Now he was ready to be told that he didn't need to divide himself from Gentiles either.
Acts 10:23-33
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. v.24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
v.25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
v.26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
v.27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
v. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.
v.29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
v.30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me
v.31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. v.32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’
v.33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
Scripture now takes up concerning what happened when Peter gets to Cornelius home.
Cornelius was prepared for a message from Peter ( from God) and he invited others to hear the good news also.
However when Cornelius met Peter he did not understand that no man should be worshiped
( well except for Jesus, who was both 100% man and 100% God). Peter quickly corrects Cornelius.
Peter says: Stand up, I am just a man.
However, there are many in 'religions', entertainment, business, government, etc etc. who would be wise to say the same.
For example, Peter did not say, oh and you may kiss my ring also.
As one commentator put it, so Peter entered a room full of "untouchables" ( in the way he always used to think). But thru the vision from God, Peter has learned that God is no respecter or persons.
Yet Peter kind of alludes to it anyway, by starting off saying: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile".
He was honest about his prejudice, but not exactly what I would call tactful ( tho I am not sure how anyone could tactfully say, I have never entered a Gentile home before because I always thought they were like dirty dogs or pigs even).
Nevertheless Peter came because God told him to, and he asks Cornelius why was he (Peter) asked to come.
So Cornelius recounts his vision of how God drew him, answered his prayer, and told him what to do.
Cornelius thanks Peter for coming and tells Peter they are ready to hear what he has to say.
Again we see that God didn't give the knowledge of why he was sent to this man until after Peter obeyed Him and went there. All Cornelius could do was tell him that an angel had told him to send for Peter. So Peter had made the jump from food to people, so now understood that Gentiles weren't unclean and to be avoided, and after hearing Cornelius, made the jump from Gentiles not being unclean to them being able to be saved by Jesus. I imagine that the last thing Jesus said to him and the others probably came to his mind - that he was to go to everyone and make disciples. And so Gentiles were now included in the "everyone".
Acts 10:34-38
v.34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism
v.35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.
v.36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
v.37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
v.38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him".
( I manage to lose everything again and so....here is the super condensed version. sigh)
Then Peter finally gets that God intended His church to be comprised of both Jews and Gentiles, that God does not show favoritism.
God is will to accept all who worship him and does good.
Peter talks about the gospel, the good news of peace through Jesus Christ. He goes on to speak of John's baptism of repentance.
From that Peter goes on to talk about Jesus. And of course Jesus is stronger than the devil.
“how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38) This reminds me of The Shema in the OT “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) and a note I read by a commentator concerning the Jewish teachings at this time (when Jesus was here). The Jew's did indeed understand the trinity to some extent. They knew there was a "Holy Spirit" which was God, which is easy to see by the many mentions in the OT. But their official teaching about it was banned after Jesus rose because they realized that it agreed with Christian theology. I tried to find the note I have about it, but can't at the moment.
Yes, Jesus is stronger than Satan, and we're all under Satan's power until we're saved.
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fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,397
|
Post by fearnot on Apr 1, 2019 13:23:58 GMT -5
Acts 10:39-48
v.39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, v.40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.
v.41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
v.42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. v.43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
v.44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.
v.45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.
v.46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said,
v.47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
v.48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
In almost any court of law, witnesses are essential to proving the truth.
Peter and the other apostles were first hand witnesses of Jesus, they spent 3 years with Him, so they would be able to know the truth about Jesus, having witnessed all Jesus said and did.
Peter then speaks of Jesus death and resurrection on the 3rd day ( which is what Jesus had prophesied).
Jesus only appeared to the believers. It might seem, if He had appeared to the unsaved, many might have believed. However, that is not true, Jesus had already done miracles, spoke like none had ever spoken, and they did not believe but killed Him.
Luke 16:31
‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’
Peter then says that Jesus commanded them to preach the Gospel, and that Jesus was appointed Judge of the living and dead.
That can be good news or bad news...I hate to even think of the bad news, it is so sad ( but yet justice is served) but the good news, is amazing, those whosoever, believes in Jesus and what He has done for them, can receive forgiveness of sins and be saved. And this was all predicted by the prophets long before Jesus came to earth.
Then an incredible thing happened....
the Holy Spirit fell on these Gentiles....
but then...
God is no respecter of persons.
This happened immediately, there was not a waiting period.
The Jewish believers that came with Peter were amazed.
And so Peter had them baptized and stayed for a few days.
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