September 23, 2018

    Confusion Or Peace?    

Acts 19: 21-41

Acts 

Afterward Paul felt impelled by the Holy Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before returning to Jerusalem. "And after that," he said, "I must go on to Rome!"  He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, on ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.

But about that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way.  It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis.  He kept many craftsmen busy.  He called the craftsmen together, along with others employed in related trades, and addressed them as follows:

"Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business.  As you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren't gods at all.  And this is happening not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!  Of course, I'm not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business.  I'm also concerned that the temple of the great Goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis - this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world - will be robbed of her prestige!"

At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"  A crowd began to gather, and soon the city was filled with confusion.  Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul's traveling companions from Macedonia.  Paul wanted to go in, but the believers wouldn't let him.  Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater.

Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another.  Everything was in confusion.  In fact, most of them didn't even know why they were there.  Alexander was thrust forward by some of the Jews, who encouraged him to explain the situation.  He  motioned for silence and tried to speak in defense.  But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for two hours:  "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!  Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"

At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak.  "Citizens of Ephesus," he said.  "Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from  heaven.  Since this is an indisputable fact, you shouldn't be disturbed, no matter what is said.  Don't do anything rash.  You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess.  If Demetrius and the craftsman have a case against them, the courts are in session and the judges can take the case at once.  Let them go through legal channels.  And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in legal assembly.  I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for al this commotion.  And if Rome demands an explanation, we won't know what to say."  Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.    

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 Thoughts....

"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the other churches."  NASB, KJV 

Satan is the author of confusion.  Wherever, whenever there is confusion or discord, you can be sure Satan is involved in one way or another.  He controls sinful nature.  Paul said in Galatians 5:19, "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results:  sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activity, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin."   

He goes on to say, "….anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God."

But listen....there is hope....promise!  Paul then says, "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law. "

"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desire of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.  If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit's leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another. 

I know those around the world are seriously watching what is going on in America.  We, in America are, also.  Does this 'Thought' today help to explain what is going on, and why things are occurring, with our President and the confirmation for a Supreme Court Justice?  Yup.  Pretty much it does.  

Satan moved good solid Christians out of churches over the years, having them believe the churches are going in the wrong direction....and they were/are....as soon as those good folks left....and did not speak out boldly, nor establish a more right church of truth.  Across the world, there is a body of believers not doing what God called them to do.  I've been guilty myself, allowing Satan to help me believe I could not, for whatever reasons/excuses, preach the Gospel, nor preach it timely.  I left God (IN PART), and the computer, by the wayside, became downtrodden, just where Satan wanted me, to keep me from preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I was not sharing that he saves, and can save you.  I myself needed saving!  I thought I was tethered, and I was, but by a string, not fully bound with THE true rock, Jesus Christ.  I was hanging by the spider web that was attempting to fully attach to the rock to cause confusion, despondency, a belief that I could not, when I might have been able to. But praise God, who provided a series of circumstances, both good and embracing, to remind me of all I was/am to him, and can be for you, as I preach the whole truthful Word of God in season, and out!  

We, as Christians, need to come back together to bring in the flock for communal prayer to slay the dragons of Satan that are tearing our nation apart, and the world (!) breath by breath. And we need to call on all other religions who have a firm belief in their Gods of peace, to pray for/with all of us as well.  The God I know, the God of peace, does not want us fighting one another.  He does not want us hurting one another.  And he does not want people who are NOT of any God of peace overseeing any country, nor supreme court.  We have a responsibility to rise up in prayer to affect a change.  Now. 

Please pray....that the God of peace will take over and reign with Holy Spirit's love, peace, joy, etc.  Pray to keep all in the world safe.  Pray hard, pray long, pray earnestly. And believe that God WILL make all things right.  Amen!

And pray for all people of abuse, as well as the abusers.  The abusers had to have been hurt to hurt.  But let us NOT....EVER....take lightly the pain and suffering the abused goes through, while the abuser is making a choice.....one certainly not wanted by the abused.  A pain that lingers for a lifetime, a pain so profound as to erase immaterial particulars in lieu of the horrific reality of the act itself.  That carries years of potential altered choice making, which can keep someone from having a fulfilled life as God intended because of the pain of the trauma causing the desire/need to shelter, hide, run from, and keep one's self safe,  Some folks can rise above, some not so much.  But all deserve the respect to be heard.  And the perpetrators deserve to be held accountable for their crimes, either here on earth or in the afterlife....wherever that may be.  God ultimately avenges all evil for us.  From whence comes my help?  God.                           

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  Let Us Pray

Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me as a new vessel by which you alone can fill me to overflowing.  Be with me this day and everyday as I go forth.  Please Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, keep us safe.  'I look up to the mountains - does my help come from there?  My help comes from the LORD, who made the heavens and the earth!  He will not let you stumble and fall; the one who watches over you will not sleep.  Indeed, he who watches over Israel never tires and never sleeps.  the LORD himself watches over you!  The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.  The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night.  The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life.  The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.'  Psalm 121.  I  praise you.  I thank you.  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

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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.  

Please accept my sincerest thanks....and God's....and may God richly bless you ! 

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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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