March 17, 2019

    Hope and Promise    

Acts 26: 1-32

Acts

Then Agrippa said to Paul, " You may speak in your defense."

So Paul, with a gesture of his hand, started his defense.  "I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, for I know you are an expert on Jewish customs and controversies.  Now please listen to me patiently!

"As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem.  If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion.  Now I am on trial because I am looking forward to the fulfillment of God's promise made to our ancestors.  In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have.  Yet, O king, they say it is wrong for me to have this hope!  Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?

"I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the followers of Jesus of Nazareth.  Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many of the believers in Jerusalem to be sent to prison.  And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death.  Many time I had them whipped in the synagogues to try to get them to curse Christ.  I was so violently opposed to them that I even hounded them in distant cities of foreign lands.

"One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests.  About noon, Your Majesty, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.  We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?  It is hard for you to fight against my will.'

"'Who are you, sir?' I asked.

"And the Lord replied, 'I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting.  Now stand up!  For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and my witness.  You are to tell the world about this experience and about other times I will appear to you.  And I will protect you from both your own people and the Gentiles.  Yes, I am going to send you to the Gentiles, to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God.  Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me.'

"And so, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to that vision from heaven.  I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must turn from their sins and turn to God - and prove they have changed by he good things they do.  Some Jews arrested me in the temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me.  But God protected me so that I am still alive today to tell these facts to everyone, from the least to the greatest I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen - that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead as a light to Jews and Gentiles alike."

Suddenly, Festus shouted, "Paul, you are insane.  Too much study has made you crazy!"

But Paul replied, "I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus.  I am speaking the sober truth.  And King Agrippa knows about these things.  I speak frankly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner!  King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?  I know you do - "

Agrippa interrupted him.  "Do you think you can make me a Christian so quickly?"

Paul replied, "Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains."

Then the king, the governor, Bernice and all the others stood and left.  As they talked it over they agreed, "This man hasn't done anything worthy of death or imprisonment."  And Agrippa told Festus, "He could be set free if he hadn't appealed to Caesar!" 

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 Thoughts....

1.  Belief in the hope and the promise of the resurrection is never wrong. 

2.  Do not oppose other belief systems.  Share yours.

3.  Do not fight against God's will.

4.  Accept God's appointment as servant and witness....you will become Jesus' friend (see John 15).

5.  Tell the world about each experience and time he will appear to you and speak to you.

6.  Know....he WILL protect you along the way.

7.  You will be sent to open people's eyes from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.  

8.  All will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people who are set apart by faith in Jesus.

9.  Admit your disobedience to God's calling.

10.  Continue to preach to all.

11.  Share that all must turn from their sins and turn to God, and prove they have changed by the good things they do.  [Don't do good works to get into heaven, do good works in thanksgiving for heaven being opened unto you.] 

12.  Preach the fulfillment of prophecy: what the prophets and Moses taught has happened - that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead as a light to Jews and Gentiles alike.

13.  Ask what others believe.

14.  Pray that all will become Christians, believing and reaching for the prize....which is eternal life in heaven.  

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Let Us Pray

God, Jesus, Holy Spirit forgive me for my sins, so that I may be a cleansed vessel to which Holy Spirit would want to come, rest and have his being, to lead, guide and direct me.  Heal me and make me whole.  God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, wash me anew to go forth for you, sharing all you have to offer, and show me all the ways I need to step up my life to be obedient to you.  You have so much to offer the world in forgiveness of sins to eternal life in heaven and a wealth of joy, peace, and love in between.  This does not mean there will not be sorrow or trouble, for surely Satan will come stronger as you enter in, but you being in, will allow me to be lifted above the battles in life.  It is such a peaceful thing to consider, to know you are there 'in the midst' of the battles, if I would only step aside after placing the prayer for such in your hands.  Lord God, Lamb of God, Holy Spirit Comforter, I am so grateful to be given the gift to share you with the world.  Carry me as I continue to go, uplift me to new heights, help me onward with my load, and thank you for handling the battles.  I have not been perfect, but I've clung.  I stand at the ready to do your will.  But you will need to pray for me for those moments of rebellion, disillusionment, disinterest in things I need to have more focus....complacency, apathy, sorrow, pain.  Give me your fervor for exercise in all areas, so that I might have life and be able to live it abundantly.  Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I bow down to you in gratitude, asking for you to oversee all things in my life and make all things right as I go forth for and with you.  Thank you....so very much for not giving up on me, loving me still, and always being there when I've needed you most.  Like now.  Help me to better be there for you.  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

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

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

Respect....Embrace....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.  

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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