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Thoughts Archived > Message Times Many


26 Oct 2014

                                   

 

October 26, 2014

Message Times Many

Acts 10: 9 - 17  

 

 

 Luke

The next day as Cornelius's messengers were nearing the city, Peter went up to the flat roof to pray.  It was about noon, and he was hungry.  But while lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance.  He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.  In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.  Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat them."

"Never, Lord," Peter declared.  "I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws."

The voice spoke again.  "If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't."  The same vision was repeated three times.  Then the sheet was pulled up again to heaven. 

Peter was very perplexed.  What could the vision mean?   

 

 

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Thoughts....

 

One might say God is a translationalist.  Translation is the act or process of changing something from one form to another.  Translational is an act, process or instance of translating per Merriam Webster Dictionary.  A translationalist is therefore someone who creates, causes, or performs translation translationally.  We'll see this play out in todays lesson as Peter prays, God gives him a vision, and they converse....that's right....they speak with each other.  Follow along....

As a matter of time reference we learn Cornelius's messengers were nearing the city during the day.  The reference to it being a day rather than night is important to not be confused in understanding, and the difference between, the basic night time dream and a prayerful vision delivered by God as we will see in todays lesson.  Visions can occur anytime, but clearly we are to learn here that prayer can result in trances, an outcome of which is visions.

Trance, per Wikipedia, denotes any state of awareness or consciousness other than normal waking consciousness which may occur involuntary and unbidden.  Merriam Webster dictionary indicates it is a state of profound abstraction or absorption. 

'Peter went up to the flat roof to pray.  It was about noon, and he was hungry.'

Peter went up to the flat roof to pray presumes that he chose to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to be more focused for prayer, be one with God.  It may have been a quieter place, and perhaps he felt closer to God being 'higher up'. 

1.  Where do you pray?  Why do you pray there?  Why do you pray at all?  DO you pray?  When do you pray?  Are you willing to set your needs aside to focus on praying to God? 

Throughout Scripture we learn that there were fixed times to pray.  About noon was one, and we learned last week, as well as other times during lessons, that 3 was also another time.  Has God ever awakened you at 3 a.m.?  Have you considered that maybe God is calling you to pray at that time?  Pray:  talk to God and listen.  Perhaps I should say it the other way around so to reinforce the importance of listening.  Pray:  listen to God and speak to him.  Praise him, adore him, honor him, respect him.  How do you do this?  Receive what he has to say, believe it, thank him for it, act on what he tells you.  In other words, DO what he tells you to do.   

Peter was hungry.  The wonderful aromas of the meal about to be set forth before him were ascending to his nostrils.  Yet he set aside his needs and went away to pray, at about noon.  Just like Jesus did. 

'But while lunch was being prepared, he fell into a trance.'

Trance.  See the definition above. 

2.  Have you ever gone into a trance while praying?  Not a faint from hunger, or diabetic coma, a trance while praying.  Have you ever been SO absorbed in prayer that God was fully with you?  Have you ever prayed like that....to that extent....that profound depth....or height?  To the point when you hear God and converse directly with him?  If so, when? How often has this happened?  DO you pray: listen/talk to God daily?  With every breath?  If not, why don't you pray daily....with every breath? 

'He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.  In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles and birds.  Then a voice said to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat them."

"Wait....that's a nightmare! you might say.  Wait, indeed.  If you are awakened in the middle of a trance, or even what seems to be a nightmare, as you sleep and are awakened, close your eyes and be reabsorbed into the moment, for there just might be a lesson in the continuation.

"Never, Lord," Peter declared.  "I have never in all my life eaten anything forbidden by our Jewish laws."

Peter was a man of God who revered God and did what he believed God told him to do.  His whole faith was based on religious principles set forth by men who believed they were hearing from God.  Therefore, laws were established.  The Ten Commandments were laws to guide and protect the people.  Yet in the New Testament Jesus tells us to love.  For love from God, Jesus, Holy Spirit given to us, going through us, directed toward one another will insure all things are right, perfect, good.  We would not need any laws were we to love one another like we are loved by God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, and share that love.

3.  Do you honor laws based on religious principles or do you simply live your life based on God's new commandment to love one another?

'The voice spoke again, "If God says something is acceptable, don't say it isn't." 

4.  Do you argue with God?  When he presents something to you?  Are you rebelious, argumentative, retaliatory, refusing to see or do for him, with him?  

'The same vision was repeated three times.'

Peter was a man of God, fully invested in listening, praying, doing for God.  Yet God had to repeat himself to Peter.

5.  Are you man or woman of God?  Are you fully invested in listening, praying, doing for God?  Or does God know you so well....enough....to know he has to tell you something 3 times for you to get it, or because you are stubborn and don't want to listen, or he has to remind you to do for him?  

'Then the sheet was pulled up again to heaven.'

6.  Does God have to warn you by backing away from your life to let you handle things on your own?   Will you mess things up?  Do you want God to back away?  Do you expect him to be there for you the next time you need him?  Why should he be, when you are not there for him?  Wouldn't you rather have an abiding relationship with the one who gave you life, forgives you of your sins [God], and the one who died for you on a cross, offered you life eternally....if you but obey [Jesus], and the one who walks with you and talks with you to guide you on God's way [Holy Spirit]?

Wouldn't you rather he back away because he trusts you to do what he tells you, knowing you have listened, and because he can rely on you?

Choose this day whom you will serve.  'Me, Myself and I', or THE Trinity:  Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

 

    

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  Let Us Pray

 

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, clearly I need to ask you to forgive me of my sins.  I have not loved you with my whole heart, I have not loved my neighbor as myself.  I am humbly sorry, please forgive me.  I have not spent regular time in prayer.  I have not devoted much time at all to honoring you.  I honor myself by acting on the desires of my heart.  I have not listened to you, I have not prayed to you as often as I should.  I have not been in a relationship with you so much as with myself for myself.  The world gets in the way.  And that is a horrible excuse, as I say it aloud.  You should come before anybody or anything.  Proportion.  Envelopes.  Schedules.  If I proportion out my day, and put into envelopes of time what I am to be doing, my schedule will work its way around you, not the other way around.  Strengthen my body and mind, that they might be stronger for you, and stronger against Satan who continues to seek to derail me into the games of life.  Be my spirit, that I might soar to new heights to bring glory to you.  I want to be so invested in you, and so absorbed in prayer and the life you choose for me to lead that neither Satan, nor his assigns....those little trouble makers who or that surround me....cannot penetrate the awesome embrace of your love for me and that which you give through me to give to others.  I praise you and thank you.  Please let your light shine upon me....and please....give me your grace, your mercy, your love, your forgiveness....and a new life with you.  Thank you!  I praise you!  I adore you!  And I love you!  Amen.

 

 

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More love.... 

  Benediction....Blessing

 

Let us hear from Paul as he prays:  

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him.  May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God!  By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen.  Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT         

 

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Scroll down to read Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving...'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'.

 

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Definition of a Christian:  Anyone who believes in God, Jesus and Holy Spirit, and accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Regardless of church name or religious affiliation. 

'All who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him.  There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female.  For you are all Christians - you are ONE in Christ Jesus.'  Galatians 3: 27

 

  It is not how we worship, but that we worship....the Trinity!

 

Teach tolerance....reach in acceptance....worship as one!

 

Embrace....Respect....Encourage!

 

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Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this:

I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

 

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  Our Continual Cause

 

It is time to reach into the community and the world around you to see wherein lies the greatest need.  As you choose to focus on these areas, do so with a servant's heart.  Whether the need is for children, adults, animals, the earth, or any cause in between that will help those in need, ask God how you can best serve his needs, what path you must take, and how long you should persevere.  Sometimes we are to be in the lives of others merely as stepping stones.  Sometimes we are to touch those lives forever.  Whatever journey you are called to take, whatever team you will be a member, know this:  God is with you always...even til the end of time.  He loves you, is grateful for you, and will help you along life's way, especially if you are helping others along theirs, persevering with a servant's heart.  

    

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    One last thing....

 

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

 

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn how to live freely and lightly.

 

   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

 

And the people said,

"Amen."

 

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 I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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  Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189.  All rights reserved.

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NOTE:  I said it long ago, but let me say it again.  If you are wanting to lead a group, start a church, or are confined in an institution, or live in a country where the Gospel is not preached, and you don't know what to say or how to say it, and yet feel led to share, teach, or preach, besides just reading straight out of the Bible and sharing what God puts on your heart, please feel free to share any or all of what I've written, if it will help you, as long as you include where it comes from, due to copyright laws.  Jesus gave God's love and healing freely, as well as his message.  Our responsibility is to get the Word out to those who need to hear it.  If what I've written....by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit....or what he has said through me....has helped you, it may help others that you know.  You are welcome to share it.  God calls all of us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.  Please share it with the fullness of love that God, Jesus, Holy Spirit....and I....have given it.  Amen!

 

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Bible Authors and Minister