*~*Prayer Requests for 10/17/2009:
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lighthouse
Oct 17, 2009, 1:49:27 PM10/17/09
to The Lords Work Email Ministry, lighthouse...@gmail.com
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*~*Prayer Requests for 10/17/2009:
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***REQUEST***
If you are a regular reader/prayer partner, we would be honored for
you to post your pic on our link for prayer partners at the top of the
sidebar (right-hand side). If you do not have a pic, any icon/clipart
can serve as a symbol of your devotion to those requesting prayer. In
no way does your inclusion mean that you are endorsing this site or
ALL of its content; it simply means you are approaching the throne of
Jesus Christ with their pleas in mind. God bless you & thanks for
your meaningful work!!
~Mark Seay (LighthousePrayerLine.org)
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"If we cannot believe God when circumstances
seem to be against us, we do not believe Him
at all" (Charles Spurgeon).
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This year, with the help of churches and volunteers across the
country, we hope to serve over 400,000 Angel Tree children. But we
can't do it without you.
As we get closer to Christmas there are still thousands of children
who need to know they haven't been forgotten. If you've already
supported this year's campaign, thank you so much for your generosity.
https://www.angeltree.org/at-appeal-donation?dc=APPEAL4-1009
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"Let no one deceive you with empty words,
for because of such things God's wrath comes
on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not
be partners with them" (Ephesians 5:6-7 - NIV).
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Hi friend,
Please keep the following individuals in your prayers:
1) Vince asks for our prayers. He writes, "I ask for prayer for my
brother in-law Jack,who was brought to the hospital today for heart
problems. He is older and a good kind man. He is always willing to
give a helping hand to anyone that needs help. I pray for the doctors
who will be taking care of him. I know he is in God's hands. I pray
through Christ, our Lord.";
2) "I AM IN DESPRATE NEED OF AN EMERGENCY MIRACLE. I AM IN DESPRATE
NEED OF $5,000.00 RIGHT NOW. I AM SINKING FAST HERE. I OWE 3 LOAN
COMPANYS AND I NEED $1,200.00 BY OCT.27TH FOR MY TAXES. I HAVE NO ONE
ELSE ALIVE TO HELP ME ALL I HAVE IS JESUS AND YOUR PRAYERS FOR ME.
JESUS SAYS ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE
OPENENED UNTO YOU. WELL,I'M ASKING DESPERATELY FOR HELP AND I'M
KNOCKING AS HARD AS I CAN TO BE HEARD. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE DISABLED
AND WE ARE BOTH IN WHEELCHAIRS. WE ARE STRUGGLING HERE SO BAD. OUR
HOME NEEDS NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND WE CAN'T FIX THEM. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
TAKE OUT ANYMORE LOANS. SO,I PRAY THE LORD WILL HEAR MY PLEA FOR
$5,000.00 IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS THANK YOU!" -
LUCRETIA;
3) MLD asks to be remembered in our prayers. He writes, "If it is
your will God please heal Kand R's marriage. Thank you for your
prayers.";
4) "I feel lost spiritually, and in need of praying for me. I miss
the feeling of being close to Jesus. PLEASE pray that I meet someone
to talk to me about Jesus. I'm lost big time. I feel like I'm dead
inside. PLEASE PRAY,PLEASE PRAY." -Nena;
5) Sue asks for our prayers. She writes, "Please I am praying for a
miracle to bring my husband back home to my kids and I. I miss him so
much and really want our marriage to be restored. Please Please pray
hard for this miracle.";
6) "Oh, please, help me. I don't feel like God is listening to me
anymore. I don't feel His presence, hear His voice, feel Him in my
life. At one time, I felt God had a plan for me, but now I feel so
alone, so bereft. How can I pray for others when I feel so
disconnected from God? Please, Lord, don't abandon me!" -Becky;
7) Teri asks for us to remember her in our thoughts and prayers. She
writes, "Please pray the Lord will lift my family out of this dry,
difficult season of crisis and heal us and give us direction. Thank
you.";
8) "My son Jessie is very sick. He is 24 years old. He has HIV. I
love him so much please pray that God would see him through this. I
ask for his healing. I know God is able. God Bless." -Billy;
9) Jim asks to be remembered in our prayers. He writes, "My name is
Jim recently my girlfriend's dad has banned me from going to visit her
for a reason I am still unsure of. My girlfriend now cries just about
every minute of the day knowing that I won't be seeing her as often as
i used to. I helped this family in their time of need, my mom and I
when shopping for them twice and bought them groceries when they
needed them, so i haven't the slightest clue what happened that he
wanted to ban me from his home. I feel sort of betrayed by him (her
dad). Please pray for me and help me ask God to affect her dad to let
me visit her again.";
10) "Please pray for my husband and I to find a home, we are getting
evicted and have no where to turn to or the money to get there. please
pray for our love to not turn from each other while going through such
a bad time. Sincerely, Diana";
11) "...that I reach my full potential and bloom into the young
flower that I know I can be!! God is always in my heart regardless of
my path I end up taking! :)" -Lizzy;
12) Marisa asks for our prayers. She writes, "My husband and I are
trying to get pregnant. Please pray that we are successful are names
are Marisa and Joshua.";
13) Please pray for Lynn, my wife. She has had terrible pains in her
upper back this week which has kept her awake most nights tossing &
turning.;
14) Nikka asks to be remembered in our prayers. She writes, "Dear
Lord, please give me the strength and the patience to deal with all
the misery in my life. I don't know what i'm going to do. I'm about to
go crazy. I don't have any support after You. Please, please hear my
cries and help me through my misery Father. i ask it all in your son's
Jesus name I pray. Amen.";
15) "Today happens to be my birthday and want to take this
oppertunity to thank god for opening the gate to peace for me and my
family - Clement, Premela,Crystal and Mark. Thank you lord and please
continue to guide us all to your pathway of peace and humility. Bring
us closer to each other and to you. Close the door to all evil doers
and open the door to yur pathway. Lord, I am so grateful to you for
bringing us closer to you and have faith and strength in you." -
Clem,Prem,Crystal and Mark;
16) Shoney asks for our prayers. She writes: "My friend is very
angry at God about the loss of a dear friend from cancer a while back,
and now another friend has been diagnosed with cancer. He is thinking
that God is mean and often rages at him. Can you pray for God to touch
his heart. And pray for me that I may help to rid him of his anger
toward God."
17) "My husband just lost his job, and we need a miracle from God
now, he can't find another job please pray for our family I have a 13
year old and a 6 month old we need Gods help." -Stephanie;
18) Anna asks to be remembered in our prayers. She writes, "My
husband is currently working in Iraq and has been for three years. He
is ready to come home. I need guidance and peace of mind that he is
doing the right thing since he will be coming home with no job and
that God will lead him to make the right decision. I Know God works in
mysterious ways.....pray that if he does come home he will lead him to
a good job and the right job. we have worked so hard and now I am
scared he is making a mistake cause he is lonely and upset with
matters over there. I want him home desperately...but with Gods
blessings. Please help me find comfort in knowing that this is where
God is leading him at this time! PRAY really hard all over the World.
I think we could use it! I very future hangs on this. We could loose
our home and everything becasue what I make will barely buy the
groceries!";
19) Harley asks us to pray for her 'Nana' and her back problems. She
will be visiting the doctor next week to see if she can get relief
from the constant pain.;
20) Ken and Joan Hester, missionairies in the Philippines, write:
"Prayer Requests: *Pray for all those that cleaning up from the slides
it is dangerous. * For me as I travel by bus to Manila and that the
rds will be clear and safe. * And as I travel from to Davao in the
southern end of Philippines Plane. * As I minister in Churches and
Villages both while here and there in Davao.";
21) K.P. Yohannan asks for our prayers. He writes, "In the two
states in South India that were recently hit with some of the worst
floods in memory, our missionaries and believers have already been
able to reach 10,000 families with relief supplies. The death toll
has already surpassed 300, and millions have been displaced from their
homes. Please keep our missionaries and believers in prayer as they
continue to minister in Jesus' name among these men, women and
precious children who have suffered so much.";
22) "Please pray for my husband who has struggled with ssa since he
can remember and is living with another man. Both of them believe in
God and He has been working in their hearts. I need wisdom as my
husband and I continue communicating with each other." -Connie;
23) "LORD KEEP MY EYES ON YOU NOT ON Y FEARS." -MICKEY;
24) "Please stand in agreement with me that god grants a miracle
restoration of our marriage (John and Sue). Thank you, John";
25) Nikia asks for our prayers. She writes, "Please pray for me,
please pray for those loved ones and those I know who are unhealthy in
any kind of way. Please pray for my children and there safety and
happiness. Please pray that my family can rise from poverty and get
out of this neighborhood into a better and brighter neighborhood where
they can go outside and play with no worries. Please pray for
financial upbringing and happiness for us all. Please pray that we
will get closer to the lord. Thank you.";
26) "I request this prayer on behalf of my Boyfriend Ian. Several
years ago he fractured his spine, several bone fragments shot into and
around the surrounding area causing severe pain. The pain never really
went away but was manageable... until now. He is starting is practicum
in criminology this January, but his pain has become so severe that he
has been in the emergency room everyday because there's nothing else
to do. The doctors told him they are unable to do anything, but there
has to be something. I pray for Ian to have a little more faith in
god, he will provide. Pray for him to be healed, if that means surgery
so be it. He needs a doctor willing to fight for him. He is 20 years
old. Right now it seems like there is a dark future ahead, but I'm
praying and getting everyone I know to pray. Please, we could use you
support! God bless." -Krista; and lastly...
27) Saint419 asks for our prayers: "Please pray for my friend Arlyn
N. She has been working with us for exactly two years now, however
she was recently informed by the District Manager Lou V. that she
could be transferred to another store at any time. We feel very sad
about this. We don't want Arlyn to go and neither does she want to
leave us. Please pray that Lou and his boss Greg C. will change their
minds and allow Arlyn to continue working with us at store #163 for at
least one more year. Thank you for your prayers!".
**God bless you for caring enough to pray!!!**
........................................
A real friend is always and under all circumstances a friend (Proverbs
17:17a).
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*~*Spotlight Site*~*
http://WayOfTheMasterRadio.com
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"He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them
finds mercy" (Proverbs 28:13 - NIV).
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Falling Off The Horse
The old time pastor was galloping down the road, rushing to get to
church on time.
Suddenly his horse stumbled and pitched him to the ground.
In the dirt with a broken leg, the pastor called out,
"All you saints in Heaven, help me get up on my horse!"
Then, with superhuman effort, he leaped onto the horse's back and fell
off the other side.
Once again on the ground, he called to Heaven, "All right, just half
of you this time!"
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"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men
waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that
when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching
when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve,
will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on
them" (Luke 12:35-37 - NIV).
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Acts 23:1-5 (Part 1 of 2)
By Laurence W. Venoitt
LighthousePrayerLine.org
On Friday the president of Cornell University, Hunter R. Rawlings III
condemned teaching intelligent design as science. He denounced
intelligent design as, (NY Times, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2005) "religious
belief masquerading as a secular idea."
He cited a recent report by the Pew Research Center in Washington
which said 42 percent of Americans believe that creationism should be
taught instead of evolution. Rawlings said, "This is above all a
cultural issue, not a scientific one,"
How do you feel as a Christian when you read something like that? If
you're a Christian you have to believe in intelligent design because
that's what the first two chapters of Genesis teach. So how do you
react when you read something like that? Should we hang our heads and
be apologetic about our Christian beliefs? Should we admit grudgingly
admit that Christianity is wrong about creation and merely try to
convince them that it is right on other points?
Not at all. One of the great things that our text teaches us is the
attitude that Christians should have about the gospel. Paul shows us
something here that we should not miss. Not only are Christians to go
forth with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but we are to go forth with it
in a certain way, with a certain attitude, with a certain demeanor.
There's an attitude that God wants us to have when we are proclaiming
Jesus Christ. It's an attitude of confidence, of boldness, absolute
certainty in the truth of the gospel, of being sure that what we are
proclaiming is in very truth what the world needs.
There are three things in our passage that show us this.
First, consider how Paul behaved when he was brought before the
Sanhedrin.
Paul was the center of attention. All eyes were on him. He had made
some very surprising statements. He had told the Jews that God had
told him to leave Jerusalem and preach to the Gentiles. As we have
seen, this infuriated the Jews. To them it was one of the greatest of
heresies.
Now it's important that we see this in its wider context.
As J. A. Alexander writes, "Paul was not a mere chance
visitor to Jerusalem, accidentally involved in a disturbance
there, but the Apostle of the Gentiles, specially commissioned
to make, as it were, a last appeal to Israel, before he
finally transferred his center of operations to the great
metropolis and mistress of the heathen world."
So we are not to look at this narrowly, but remember that the Spirit
compelled Paul to go to Jerusalem. He is there on official business
for Jesus Christ.
As a result of the disturbance the previous day Paul is brought before
the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the Jewish high council. It was
composed of high priests, elders and scholars, and met under the
presidency of the ruling high priest. But it wasn't exclusively a
religious court. It was, (BDAG) "the highest indigenous governing body
in Judaea… and… was the ultimate authority not only in religious
matters, but in legal and governmental affairs as well, in so far as
it did not encroach on the authority of the Roman procurator."
This body was the epitome of Judaism that had rejected Jesus. They did
not accept Jesus' claims to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One
who came to fulfill the Old Testament.
So Paul is brought before them, the Sanhedrin, with all their
tradition, with all their learning, with all their pomp and
circumstance—and what does he do? We read,
"Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, 'My brothers, I have
fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.'"
Paul didn't let them steal the high ground. He was not at all
apologetic about the gospel. Nor should he have been. He had a good
conscience. He told them that. Paul told them that he was far from
being an apostate or renegade, (J. A. Alexander) "he claimed to be
still a faithful member of the chosen people…"
Further, Paul knew that, (Alexander):
"Christianity was the genuine development of ancient Judaism, so that
he, and not his adversaries, held fast to the true design and spirit
of the Mosaic institutions."
Paul knew the gospel of Jesus Christ was the power of God for
salvation. He knew he had the truth—the truth of God and he stood up
for it. As he wrote in Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
He knew that Christ was, (1 Corinthians 1:24) "the power of God and
the wisdom of God."
So as he stood before the Sanhedrin, he was full of confidence and
boldness. He was not ashamed to testify about Jesus. He knew that
Jesus was the Savior of the world, the only hope of lost sinners. He
knew what He was called to. In Acts 1, just before He ascended into
heaven, Jesus said to His disciples,
"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."
He knew that Jesus had come to save sinners. As Jesus proclaimed in
the synagogue in His home town of Nazareth,
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
So when Paul went forward with the gospel, it was with full
confidence. He was not ashamed of it. He was bold and courageous, full
of confidence. He knew he had the truth and he held his head up and
proclaimed it boldly.
That's the way we should be with the gospel, with God's Word and what
it teaches. For what we have with the president of Cornell is that he
is trying to steal the high ground.
He's trying to tell everyone that creationism and intelligent design
is not in accord with science. But don't let anyone fool you. God
created science. Science does not contradict the Bible. The more you
know about science, the more you should be drawn to glorify God. I
consider science to be like Psalm 19—it declares the glory of God.
Just like the study of astronomy should cause people to know God, and
praise Him for His greatness, so the study of all science should cause
people to draw closer to Him and praise and adore Him. The great
question is—why doesn't it?
There are two great ways you can go wrong with science and the Bible.
One applies to Christians and one applies to scientists.
One way is to misinterpret and misunderstand what the Bible says. This
sometimes happens to Christians and it causes scientists to look down
on Christianity and its teachings and to treat them with contempt. The
great scientist Galileo was convicted of heresy and imprisoned because
he taught the views of Copernicus. Copernicus taught, quite correctly,
that the earth revolves around the sun instead of the sun revolving
around the earth. Yet some in the church believed that that could not
be so because Psalm 93:1 says,
"The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved."
They misunderstood Psalm 93. They thought it was teaching the
scientific truth that the earth was stationary. But that's not what
Psalm 93 teaches. Psalm 93:1 teaches others things. John Calvin
wrote,
"The Psalmist proves that God will not neglect or abandon the world,
from the fact that he created it."
Charles Spurgeon says on Psalm 93:
"Because Jehovah reigns terrestrial things for a while are stable. We
could not be sure of anything if we were not sure that he has
dominion. When he withdraws his manifest presence from among men all
things are out of order; blasphemers rave, persecutors rage, the
profane grow bold, and the licentious increase in wantonness; but when
the divine power and glory are again manifested order is restored, and
the poor distracted world is at peace again. Society would be the
football of the basest of mankind if God did not establish it, and
even the globe itself would fly through space, like thistle down
across the common, if the Lord did not hold it in its appointed orbit.
That there is any stability, either in the world or in the church, is
the Lord's doings, and he is to be adored for it."
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Dolphins are so intelligent that within a few weeks of
captivity they can train a man to stand on the edge of
their pool and throw them fish three times a day.
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"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the
vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my
Savior" (Habakkuk 3:17-18 - NIV).
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For many of us, the Sunday pulpit call to “Go share the Gospel and
make disciples” feels inspiring in the moment and horribly
intimidating once we step out into the real world. When “sharing my
faith” becomes another item to check off on my “to do” list, it often
feels more like drudgery than delight.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Visit: http://Lote.org
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Sermon
A pastor, known for his lengthy sermons, noticed a man get up and
leave during the middle of his message. The man returned just before
the conclusion of the service.
Afterwards the pastor asked the man where he had gone.
"I went to get a haircut," was the reply.
"But," said the pastor, "why didn't you do that before the service?"
"Because," the gentleman said, "I didn't need one then."
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100,000 Website Visitors:
https://paydotcom.com/r/13936/lit4u/22998695/
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Acts 23:1-5 (Part 2 of 2)
LighthousePrayerLine.org
So Psalm 93 understood correctly, is not in conflict with the fact
that the earth revolves around the sun. But sometimes Christians make
themselves look bad by holding to views that are wrong. That's one
reason why some scientists look with disfavor on Christian teaching.
The other way to go wrong is what some scientists do. They will tell
you that the scientific method consists of only things that are
verifiable and repeatable. Since creation as it's presented in Genesis
1 & 2 doesn't meet that criteria—they rule it out. And let's be clear
about this—they don't rule it out because the facts are against it—but
because it doesn't fit in with the presuppositions. So when the
President of Cornell makes statements like I quoted, Christians don't
have to hang and head and feel like we're stupid for believing what
the Bible teaches—not at all. God created the universe. Genesis 1 and
2 can't be reasonably interpreted any other way. Just because some
scientist's presuppositions discount it—doesn't at all mean that
they've disproved it. It just means they're not even considering it.
Creationism has never been discredited. Rather it has been dismissed.
We don't have to hang our heads because of that.
Creation is part of the gospel. It teaches that men and women are
responsible before God because He created them. Paul was very up front
about that when he preached in Athens. He said, (Acts 17:24)
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven
and earth and does not live in temples built by hands."
He went on to command them to repent.
So don't be ashamed of the gospel. When you put it forth, do it like
Paul. It's the truth of God that people need to hear.
The second thing in our passage that shows us Paul's confidence is the
way he rebuked the high priest who ordered him to be struck in the
face.
In verse 2 we read that the high priest Ananias, "ordered those
standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth." This had great
symbolic meaning.
J. A. Alexander writes,
"Striking on the mouth implies a previous unlawful use of it, as well
as an injunction to cease speaking… Translated into language it was
here equivalent to saying, that Paul's claim, not only to integrity
and innocence as some suppose, but to the highest theocratical
fidelity, was false in itself, and grossly insulting to his judges…"
In other words, the priest was totally rejecting Paul's defense. It
was like he was accusing Paul of something akin to blasphemy. Paul is
struck on the mouth. It's much more extreme than the harshest verbal
rebuke. Paul is struck on the mouth. It was an extremely forceful,
painful and cruel rebuke. It was meant to be decisive and silencing.
Perhaps after this they thought that Paul would hang his head in
shame.
Hang his head in shame? Paul wasn't going to do that. There was no
reason for it. This is important for us to note.
Have you ever see people act guiltily? It's painful to watch. I've see
Christians doing something wrong and they know they're doing wrong and
with some of them, you can see that their conscience bothers them. You
can see it sometimes in church situations. They know they're doing
wrong and they're ashamed of their behavior—but they carry on in it.
One look at them and you know that truth and righteousness is not on
their side. They just act guilty.
That's how the enemies of the gospel would like to see Christians act.
But Paul refused to hang his head and act like that. He was struck,
but he did not even begin to act like he was guilty. Rather, with
great boldness, he said,
"God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me
according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding
that I be struck!"
Paul draws attention to their hypocrisy and shows that they, the
epitome of Judaism that had rejected Jesus—were not obeying the law.
Paul rebuked the high priest for doing wrong and warned him of the
severe judgment that would fall on him—how God would strike him.
It is quite likely that Paul was here speaking under the power of the
Holy Spirit. You'll remember that in Matthew 10:17 Jesus said to His
disciples,
"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local
councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be
brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the
Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or
how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will
not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through
you."
Paul was speaking with the authority of Christ. He is on trial—but he
is the one who is fearless. He is the one who is citing the law and
pointing out his accusers disobedience to it. He is the one who is
warning them about the punishment that will fall on them for what they
are doing. He is the one who has authority and power.
Now this is a very important lesson for us. No matter what your
situation, whether you are being mocked, ridiculed or attacked for the
gospel—
Don't be afraid. The gospel has authority that is above all other
authority. Proclaim the gospel truth with authority.
You'll remember just before Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus said to
His disciples, (Matthew 28:18)
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age."
We go out with Jesus' authority. Go out with confidence, with
boldness. Be absolutely fearless.
The third thing in our passage that shows us Paul's confidence is the
irony in his apology.
J. A. Alexander writes,
"The fashionable sentimental view of this verse is,' that Paul
acknowledges his having spoken in a fit of passion, and apologies for
it."
Alexander goes on to totally dismiss such an understanding. He
writes,
"besides the sheer impossibility of making I wist not (i.e. did not
know) mean I did not consider (or remember at the moment), the
acknowledgment itself would be at variance with all the facts and
circumstances of the case."
How could Paul not know the high priest? Paul is familiar with the
Sanhedrin. Various suggestions have been put forward. One is that the
high priest was not wearing his official robes. It was a hastily
called meeting so they think that Paul did not know he was the high
priest. Others suggest that Paul didn't know who had given the order
to strike him, that his poor eyesight prevented him from seeing who it
was who ordered him to be struck—that he thought he was speaking
against someone other than the high priest. But all such possibilities
are weak.
Paul is not apologizing but is continuing his rebuke. Alexander
writes,
"Another objection to both these solutions is that they suppose Paul's
words to mean, "I did not know him but I know him now,' whereas the
present tense (esti) necessarily implies, that his ignorance, whatever
it might be, still continued. The combination of the past and present
forms can only be explained by understanding him to mean, 'I did not
know (and I do not now know) that he is the High Priest.'"
I believe the best solution, with Augustine, Calvin and Alexander, is
to see irony in Paul's apology, that it is an apology with a sting—
that Paul apologizes but at the same time in effect says, (Calvin)
"I, brethren, I recognize nothing priestly about this man."
Alexander writes,
"Paul means to deny that Ananias was in any such sense High Priest, as
to make him a violator of the law in Exodus."
Although some see this directed at the man, and not the office,
Alexander sees it also directed at the office.
"Paul's denunciation was not meant to terminate upon the individual,
but through him aimed at the entire system, of which he claimed to be
the representative."
Alexander sees Paul as pointing to the lawlessness of their whole
system, that now that Jesus has come, the whole Mosaic system has been
superseded—and that those who are carrying it on are violators of the
law.
As I mentioned earlier, Paul was no chance visitor to Jerusalem. He
was there because of the Spirit. Alexander writes,
"All that is recorded of his acts and sufferings, in his farewell
visit to the Holy City, must be viewed as having an official character
on his part…"
Paul was showing that the high priest, the whole Sanhedrin—were in
violation of the law, and that they were going to be judged by God
because they had rejected God's Messiah.
Christians, as you go forth with the gospel, don't be ashamed of it.
It's the power of God for salvation. It's in accord with the facts of
the universe. It's the truth, the truth that is the fulfillment of the
Old Testament—Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the only
hope of the world.
Lastly, for those of you who aren't Christians—you should understand
that Paul had authority from Christ. So too, the words of Christ that
you have heard today have authority. Embrace Jesus. As Psalm 2 says,
"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for
his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in
him."
Go to Jesus today. Find life in Him.
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"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares
about you" (1 Peter 5:7 – NLT).
Be sure to send in your prayer request for the next
mailing.
You are in my thoughts and prayers! May the Lord
continue to bless you with knowledge of Himself.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Mark Seay
Lighthouse Prayer Line
105 Quincy Drive
Greer, SC 29650
LighthousePrayerLine.org
"'I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and
will make you to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that
are blind, to free captives from prison and to
release from the dungeon those who sit in
darkness'" (Isaiah 42:6-7).
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
Having A Hunger For God
By Pastor Bryant R. Ali
"Jesus answered, 'It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4
NIV).
As I embrace the timetable of my healing I am forced to reflect on how
I came to the place of needing to be healed. Was the culture of the
church actually killing me? My journey in the church world has always
been surrounded by food. As a former cocaine addict with an obsessive
compulsive personality. I had never learned the beauty of temperance,
moderation or self control. I came from the BT Express generation "do
it until you are satisfied whatever it is do it'. One of the biggest
myths in Christendom is that every one will be delivered without
facing the consequences of your actions. Galatians 6:9 states that God
is not mocked what ever a person sows that what they shall also reap.
Oh what a shock it was when it came time for me to pay the piper. When
I came out of the streets and returned back to God in 1990 I was 240
pounds and for the last four years I have been hovering around 420
pounds. The concept of clean living was killing me. In reality it was
my failure to embrace healthy alternatives. My good friend Pastor
Henry Clay would always declare to me that we are preaching about how
great God is, yet we are destroying the temples that he has given us.
This is not a post heart attack confession this is a reflection on the
grace of God in spite of me. I could place blame a number of things
but the reality is I did it to myself. I failed in my hunger for the
words of God. Oh yes, I used his words to preach, teach, for personal
devotion, and theological reflection. Yet, I have not seen the
manifestation of the vision, my dreams or the over abundance of souls
running to the throne of grace.My spiritual life was in a recession
and my heart attack was my bailout. Have you ever been guilty of
working for the master, serving the master, and not letting the master
work on you. Public success but a private mess.
Well in 2009 I won't talk about it, I will be about it. I know who I
am and to whom I belong and my goal is to seek first his kingdom and
the healing , weight loss, abundant life and freedom to serve him in
spirit and in truth will follow. I have to not look at other's
vineyards but bloom where I have been planted. As my doctor told my
wife, don't let the church folks feed the bear. Jesus took it a step
further, don't leave by bread alone but by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God. Just because it is before me doesn't mean I
have to eat it. I hear God saying "Bryant don't live to eat, but eat
to live. My prayer for today is Lord I thirst for you, I long to live
in your presence. My heart seeks after you, Draw me nearer to the
beauty of your holiness. This is my thought for today. Peace.
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
We hope you have found today's newsletter encouraging to your
walk with Jesus Christ. Please send all prayer requests and
praise reports to us by using the "comments" hyperlink, which
can be found at the end of each blog/article. God is Good!!!
A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle. Please Keep This
Candle Going!
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I'm just a nobody
trying to tell everybody
that there is somebody
who can save anybody!!
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"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances
you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you" (Colossians 3:13 - NIV).
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*~*Prayer Requests for 10/17/2009:
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
***REQUEST***
If you are a regular reader/prayer partner, we would be honored for
you to post your pic on our link for prayer partners at the top of the
sidebar (right-hand side). If you do not have a pic, any icon/clipart
can serve as a symbol of your devotion to those requesting prayer. In
no way does your inclusion mean that you are endorsing this site or
ALL of its content; it simply means you are approaching the throne of
Jesus Christ with their pleas in mind. God bless you & thanks for
your meaningful work!!
~Mark Seay (LighthousePrayerLine.org)
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
"If we cannot believe God when circumstances
seem to be against us, we do not believe Him
at all" (Charles Spurgeon).
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
This year, with the help of churches and volunteers across the
country, we hope to serve over 400,000 Angel Tree children. But we
can't do it without you.
As we get closer to Christmas there are still thousands of children
who need to know they haven't been forgotten. If you've already
supported this year's campaign, thank you so much for your generosity.
https://www.angeltree.org/at-appeal-donation?dc=APPEAL4-1009
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
"Let no one deceive you with empty words,
for because of such things God's wrath comes
on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not
be partners with them" (Ephesians 5:6-7 - NIV).
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
Hi friend,
Please keep the following individuals in your prayers:
1) Vince asks for our prayers. He writes, "I ask for prayer for my
brother in-law Jack,who was brought to the hospital today for heart
problems. He is older and a good kind man. He is always willing to
give a helping hand to anyone that needs help. I pray for the doctors
who will be taking care of him. I know he is in God's hands. I pray
through Christ, our Lord.";
2) "I AM IN DESPRATE NEED OF AN EMERGENCY MIRACLE. I AM IN DESPRATE
NEED OF $5,000.00 RIGHT NOW. I AM SINKING FAST HERE. I OWE 3 LOAN
COMPANYS AND I NEED $1,200.00 BY OCT.27TH FOR MY TAXES. I HAVE NO ONE
ELSE ALIVE TO HELP ME ALL I HAVE IS JESUS AND YOUR PRAYERS FOR ME.
JESUS SAYS ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE
OPENENED UNTO YOU. WELL,I'M ASKING DESPERATELY FOR HELP AND I'M
KNOCKING AS HARD AS I CAN TO BE HEARD. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE DISABLED
AND WE ARE BOTH IN WHEELCHAIRS. WE ARE STRUGGLING HERE SO BAD. OUR
HOME NEEDS NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND WE CAN'T FIX THEM. WE CAN'T AFFORD TO
TAKE OUT ANYMORE LOANS. SO,I PRAY THE LORD WILL HEAR MY PLEA FOR
$5,000.00 IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS THANK YOU!" -
LUCRETIA;
3) MLD asks to be remembered in our prayers. He writes, "If it is
your will God please heal Kand R's marriage. Thank you for your
prayers.";
4) "I feel lost spiritually, and in need of praying for me. I miss
the feeling of being close to Jesus. PLEASE pray that I meet someone
to talk to me about Jesus. I'm lost big time. I feel like I'm dead
inside. PLEASE PRAY,PLEASE PRAY." -Nena;
5) Sue asks for our prayers. She writes, "Please I am praying for a
miracle to bring my husband back home to my kids and I. I miss him so
much and really want our marriage to be restored. Please Please pray
hard for this miracle.";
6) "Oh, please, help me. I don't feel like God is listening to me
anymore. I don't feel His presence, hear His voice, feel Him in my
life. At one time, I felt God had a plan for me, but now I feel so
alone, so bereft. How can I pray for others when I feel so
disconnected from God? Please, Lord, don't abandon me!" -Becky;
7) Teri asks for us to remember her in our thoughts and prayers. She
writes, "Please pray the Lord will lift my family out of this dry,
difficult season of crisis and heal us and give us direction. Thank
you.";
8) "My son Jessie is very sick. He is 24 years old. He has HIV. I
love him so much please pray that God would see him through this. I
ask for his healing. I know God is able. God Bless." -Billy;
9) Jim asks to be remembered in our prayers. He writes, "My name is
Jim recently my girlfriend's dad has banned me from going to visit her
for a reason I am still unsure of. My girlfriend now cries just about
every minute of the day knowing that I won't be seeing her as often as
i used to. I helped this family in their time of need, my mom and I
when shopping for them twice and bought them groceries when they
needed them, so i haven't the slightest clue what happened that he
wanted to ban me from his home. I feel sort of betrayed by him (her
dad). Please pray for me and help me ask God to affect her dad to let
me visit her again.";
10) "Please pray for my husband and I to find a home, we are getting
evicted and have no where to turn to or the money to get there. please
pray for our love to not turn from each other while going through such
a bad time. Sincerely, Diana";
11) "...that I reach my full potential and bloom into the young
flower that I know I can be!! God is always in my heart regardless of
my path I end up taking! :)" -Lizzy;
12) Marisa asks for our prayers. She writes, "My husband and I are
trying to get pregnant. Please pray that we are successful are names
are Marisa and Joshua.";
13) Please pray for Lynn, my wife. She has had terrible pains in her
upper back this week which has kept her awake most nights tossing &
turning.;
14) Nikka asks to be remembered in our prayers. She writes, "Dear
Lord, please give me the strength and the patience to deal with all
the misery in my life. I don't know what i'm going to do. I'm about to
go crazy. I don't have any support after You. Please, please hear my
cries and help me through my misery Father. i ask it all in your son's
Jesus name I pray. Amen.";
15) "Today happens to be my birthday and want to take this
oppertunity to thank god for opening the gate to peace for me and my
family - Clement, Premela,Crystal and Mark. Thank you lord and please
continue to guide us all to your pathway of peace and humility. Bring
us closer to each other and to you. Close the door to all evil doers
and open the door to yur pathway. Lord, I am so grateful to you for
bringing us closer to you and have faith and strength in you." -
Clem,Prem,Crystal and Mark;
16) Shoney asks for our prayers. She writes: "My friend is very
angry at God about the loss of a dear friend from cancer a while back,
and now another friend has been diagnosed with cancer. He is thinking
that God is mean and often rages at him. Can you pray for God to touch
his heart. And pray for me that I may help to rid him of his anger
toward God."
17) "My husband just lost his job, and we need a miracle from God
now, he can't find another job please pray for our family I have a 13
year old and a 6 month old we need Gods help." -Stephanie;
18) Anna asks to be remembered in our prayers. She writes, "My
husband is currently working in Iraq and has been for three years. He
is ready to come home. I need guidance and peace of mind that he is
doing the right thing since he will be coming home with no job and
that God will lead him to make the right decision. I Know God works in
mysterious ways.....pray that if he does come home he will lead him to
a good job and the right job. we have worked so hard and now I am
scared he is making a mistake cause he is lonely and upset with
matters over there. I want him home desperately...but with Gods
blessings. Please help me find comfort in knowing that this is where
God is leading him at this time! PRAY really hard all over the World.
I think we could use it! I very future hangs on this. We could loose
our home and everything becasue what I make will barely buy the
groceries!";
19) Harley asks us to pray for her 'Nana' and her back problems. She
will be visiting the doctor next week to see if she can get relief
from the constant pain.;
20) Ken and Joan Hester, missionairies in the Philippines, write:
"Prayer Requests: *Pray for all those that cleaning up from the slides
it is dangerous. * For me as I travel by bus to Manila and that the
rds will be clear and safe. * And as I travel from to Davao in the
southern end of Philippines Plane. * As I minister in Churches and
Villages both while here and there in Davao.";
21) K.P. Yohannan asks for our prayers. He writes, "In the two
states in South India that were recently hit with some of the worst
floods in memory, our missionaries and believers have already been
able to reach 10,000 families with relief supplies. The death toll
has already surpassed 300, and millions have been displaced from their
homes. Please keep our missionaries and believers in prayer as they
continue to minister in Jesus' name among these men, women and
precious children who have suffered so much.";
22) "Please pray for my husband who has struggled with ssa since he
can remember and is living with another man. Both of them believe in
God and He has been working in their hearts. I need wisdom as my
husband and I continue communicating with each other." -Connie;
23) "LORD KEEP MY EYES ON YOU NOT ON Y FEARS." -MICKEY;
24) "Please stand in agreement with me that god grants a miracle
restoration of our marriage (John and Sue). Thank you, John";
25) Nikia asks for our prayers. She writes, "Please pray for me,
please pray for those loved ones and those I know who are unhealthy in
any kind of way. Please pray for my children and there safety and
happiness. Please pray that my family can rise from poverty and get
out of this neighborhood into a better and brighter neighborhood where
they can go outside and play with no worries. Please pray for
financial upbringing and happiness for us all. Please pray that we
will get closer to the lord. Thank you.";
26) "I request this prayer on behalf of my Boyfriend Ian. Several
years ago he fractured his spine, several bone fragments shot into and
around the surrounding area causing severe pain. The pain never really
went away but was manageable... until now. He is starting is practicum
in criminology this January, but his pain has become so severe that he
has been in the emergency room everyday because there's nothing else
to do. The doctors told him they are unable to do anything, but there
has to be something. I pray for Ian to have a little more faith in
god, he will provide. Pray for him to be healed, if that means surgery
so be it. He needs a doctor willing to fight for him. He is 20 years
old. Right now it seems like there is a dark future ahead, but I'm
praying and getting everyone I know to pray. Please, we could use you
support! God bless." -Krista; and lastly...
27) Saint419 asks for our prayers: "Please pray for my friend Arlyn
N. She has been working with us for exactly two years now, however
she was recently informed by the District Manager Lou V. that she
could be transferred to another store at any time. We feel very sad
about this. We don't want Arlyn to go and neither does she want to
leave us. Please pray that Lou and his boss Greg C. will change their
minds and allow Arlyn to continue working with us at store #163 for at
least one more year. Thank you for your prayers!".
**God bless you for caring enough to pray!!!**
........................................
A real friend is always and under all circumstances a friend (Proverbs
17:17a).
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*~*Spotlight Site*~*
http://WayOfTheMasterRadio.com
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
but whoever confesses and renounces them
finds mercy" (Proverbs 28:13 - NIV).
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Falling Off The Horse
The old time pastor was galloping down the road, rushing to get to
church on time.
Suddenly his horse stumbled and pitched him to the ground.
In the dirt with a broken leg, the pastor called out,
"All you saints in Heaven, help me get up on my horse!"
Then, with superhuman effort, he leaped onto the horse's back and fell
off the other side.
Once again on the ground, he called to Heaven, "All right, just half
of you this time!"
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"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men
waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that
when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching
when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve,
will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on
them" (Luke 12:35-37 - NIV).
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Acts 23:1-5 (Part 1 of 2)
By Laurence W. Venoitt
LighthousePrayerLine.org
On Friday the president of Cornell University, Hunter R. Rawlings III
condemned teaching intelligent design as science. He denounced
intelligent design as, (NY Times, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2005) "religious
belief masquerading as a secular idea."
He cited a recent report by the Pew Research Center in Washington
which said 42 percent of Americans believe that creationism should be
taught instead of evolution. Rawlings said, "This is above all a
cultural issue, not a scientific one,"
How do you feel as a Christian when you read something like that? If
you're a Christian you have to believe in intelligent design because
that's what the first two chapters of Genesis teach. So how do you
react when you read something like that? Should we hang our heads and
be apologetic about our Christian beliefs? Should we admit grudgingly
admit that Christianity is wrong about creation and merely try to
convince them that it is right on other points?
Not at all. One of the great things that our text teaches us is the
attitude that Christians should have about the gospel. Paul shows us
something here that we should not miss. Not only are Christians to go
forth with the gospel of Jesus Christ, but we are to go forth with it
in a certain way, with a certain attitude, with a certain demeanor.
There's an attitude that God wants us to have when we are proclaiming
Jesus Christ. It's an attitude of confidence, of boldness, absolute
certainty in the truth of the gospel, of being sure that what we are
proclaiming is in very truth what the world needs.
There are three things in our passage that show us this.
First, consider how Paul behaved when he was brought before the
Sanhedrin.
Paul was the center of attention. All eyes were on him. He had made
some very surprising statements. He had told the Jews that God had
told him to leave Jerusalem and preach to the Gentiles. As we have
seen, this infuriated the Jews. To them it was one of the greatest of
heresies.
Now it's important that we see this in its wider context.
As J. A. Alexander writes, "Paul was not a mere chance
visitor to Jerusalem, accidentally involved in a disturbance
there, but the Apostle of the Gentiles, specially commissioned
to make, as it were, a last appeal to Israel, before he
finally transferred his center of operations to the great
metropolis and mistress of the heathen world."
So we are not to look at this narrowly, but remember that the Spirit
compelled Paul to go to Jerusalem. He is there on official business
for Jesus Christ.
As a result of the disturbance the previous day Paul is brought before
the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the Jewish high council. It was
composed of high priests, elders and scholars, and met under the
presidency of the ruling high priest. But it wasn't exclusively a
religious court. It was, (BDAG) "the highest indigenous governing body
in Judaea… and… was the ultimate authority not only in religious
matters, but in legal and governmental affairs as well, in so far as
it did not encroach on the authority of the Roman procurator."
This body was the epitome of Judaism that had rejected Jesus. They did
not accept Jesus' claims to be the Messiah, the Anointed One, the One
who came to fulfill the Old Testament.
So Paul is brought before them, the Sanhedrin, with all their
tradition, with all their learning, with all their pomp and
circumstance—and what does he do? We read,
"Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, 'My brothers, I have
fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.'"
Paul didn't let them steal the high ground. He was not at all
apologetic about the gospel. Nor should he have been. He had a good
conscience. He told them that. Paul told them that he was far from
being an apostate or renegade, (J. A. Alexander) "he claimed to be
still a faithful member of the chosen people…"
Further, Paul knew that, (Alexander):
"Christianity was the genuine development of ancient Judaism, so that
he, and not his adversaries, held fast to the true design and spirit
of the Mosaic institutions."
Paul knew the gospel of Jesus Christ was the power of God for
salvation. He knew he had the truth—the truth of God and he stood up
for it. As he wrote in Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who
believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
He knew that Christ was, (1 Corinthians 1:24) "the power of God and
the wisdom of God."
So as he stood before the Sanhedrin, he was full of confidence and
boldness. He was not ashamed to testify about Jesus. He knew that
Jesus was the Savior of the world, the only hope of lost sinners. He
knew what He was called to. In Acts 1, just before He ascended into
heaven, Jesus said to His disciples,
"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."
He knew that Jesus had come to save sinners. As Jesus proclaimed in
the synagogue in His home town of Nazareth,
"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach
good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the
prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
So when Paul went forward with the gospel, it was with full
confidence. He was not ashamed of it. He was bold and courageous, full
of confidence. He knew he had the truth and he held his head up and
proclaimed it boldly.
That's the way we should be with the gospel, with God's Word and what
it teaches. For what we have with the president of Cornell is that he
is trying to steal the high ground.
He's trying to tell everyone that creationism and intelligent design
is not in accord with science. But don't let anyone fool you. God
created science. Science does not contradict the Bible. The more you
know about science, the more you should be drawn to glorify God. I
consider science to be like Psalm 19—it declares the glory of God.
Just like the study of astronomy should cause people to know God, and
praise Him for His greatness, so the study of all science should cause
people to draw closer to Him and praise and adore Him. The great
question is—why doesn't it?
There are two great ways you can go wrong with science and the Bible.
One applies to Christians and one applies to scientists.
One way is to misinterpret and misunderstand what the Bible says. This
sometimes happens to Christians and it causes scientists to look down
on Christianity and its teachings and to treat them with contempt. The
great scientist Galileo was convicted of heresy and imprisoned because
he taught the views of Copernicus. Copernicus taught, quite correctly,
that the earth revolves around the sun instead of the sun revolving
around the earth. Yet some in the church believed that that could not
be so because Psalm 93:1 says,
"The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved."
They misunderstood Psalm 93. They thought it was teaching the
scientific truth that the earth was stationary. But that's not what
Psalm 93 teaches. Psalm 93:1 teaches others things. John Calvin
wrote,
"The Psalmist proves that God will not neglect or abandon the world,
from the fact that he created it."
Charles Spurgeon says on Psalm 93:
"Because Jehovah reigns terrestrial things for a while are stable. We
could not be sure of anything if we were not sure that he has
dominion. When he withdraws his manifest presence from among men all
things are out of order; blasphemers rave, persecutors rage, the
profane grow bold, and the licentious increase in wantonness; but when
the divine power and glory are again manifested order is restored, and
the poor distracted world is at peace again. Society would be the
football of the basest of mankind if God did not establish it, and
even the globe itself would fly through space, like thistle down
across the common, if the Lord did not hold it in its appointed orbit.
That there is any stability, either in the world or in the church, is
the Lord's doings, and he is to be adored for it."
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Dolphins are so intelligent that within a few weeks of
captivity they can train a man to stand on the edge of
their pool and throw them fish three times a day.
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"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the
vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet
I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my
Savior" (Habakkuk 3:17-18 - NIV).
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For many of us, the Sunday pulpit call to “Go share the Gospel and
make disciples” feels inspiring in the moment and horribly
intimidating once we step out into the real world. When “sharing my
faith” becomes another item to check off on my “to do” list, it often
feels more like drudgery than delight.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
Visit: http://Lote.org
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Sermon
A pastor, known for his lengthy sermons, noticed a man get up and
leave during the middle of his message. The man returned just before
the conclusion of the service.
Afterwards the pastor asked the man where he had gone.
"I went to get a haircut," was the reply.
"But," said the pastor, "why didn't you do that before the service?"
"Because," the gentleman said, "I didn't need one then."
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100,000 Website Visitors:
https://paydotcom.com/r/13936/lit4u/22998695/
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Acts 23:1-5 (Part 2 of 2)
LighthousePrayerLine.org
So Psalm 93 understood correctly, is not in conflict with the fact
that the earth revolves around the sun. But sometimes Christians make
themselves look bad by holding to views that are wrong. That's one
reason why some scientists look with disfavor on Christian teaching.
The other way to go wrong is what some scientists do. They will tell
you that the scientific method consists of only things that are
verifiable and repeatable. Since creation as it's presented in Genesis
1 & 2 doesn't meet that criteria—they rule it out. And let's be clear
about this—they don't rule it out because the facts are against it—but
because it doesn't fit in with the presuppositions. So when the
President of Cornell makes statements like I quoted, Christians don't
have to hang and head and feel like we're stupid for believing what
the Bible teaches—not at all. God created the universe. Genesis 1 and
2 can't be reasonably interpreted any other way. Just because some
scientist's presuppositions discount it—doesn't at all mean that
they've disproved it. It just means they're not even considering it.
Creationism has never been discredited. Rather it has been dismissed.
We don't have to hang our heads because of that.
Creation is part of the gospel. It teaches that men and women are
responsible before God because He created them. Paul was very up front
about that when he preached in Athens. He said, (Acts 17:24)
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven
and earth and does not live in temples built by hands."
He went on to command them to repent.
So don't be ashamed of the gospel. When you put it forth, do it like
Paul. It's the truth of God that people need to hear.
The second thing in our passage that shows us Paul's confidence is the
way he rebuked the high priest who ordered him to be struck in the
face.
In verse 2 we read that the high priest Ananias, "ordered those
standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth." This had great
symbolic meaning.
J. A. Alexander writes,
"Striking on the mouth implies a previous unlawful use of it, as well
as an injunction to cease speaking… Translated into language it was
here equivalent to saying, that Paul's claim, not only to integrity
and innocence as some suppose, but to the highest theocratical
fidelity, was false in itself, and grossly insulting to his judges…"
In other words, the priest was totally rejecting Paul's defense. It
was like he was accusing Paul of something akin to blasphemy. Paul is
struck on the mouth. It's much more extreme than the harshest verbal
rebuke. Paul is struck on the mouth. It was an extremely forceful,
painful and cruel rebuke. It was meant to be decisive and silencing.
Perhaps after this they thought that Paul would hang his head in
shame.
Hang his head in shame? Paul wasn't going to do that. There was no
reason for it. This is important for us to note.
Have you ever see people act guiltily? It's painful to watch. I've see
Christians doing something wrong and they know they're doing wrong and
with some of them, you can see that their conscience bothers them. You
can see it sometimes in church situations. They know they're doing
wrong and they're ashamed of their behavior—but they carry on in it.
One look at them and you know that truth and righteousness is not on
their side. They just act guilty.
That's how the enemies of the gospel would like to see Christians act.
But Paul refused to hang his head and act like that. He was struck,
but he did not even begin to act like he was guilty. Rather, with
great boldness, he said,
"God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me
according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding
that I be struck!"
Paul draws attention to their hypocrisy and shows that they, the
epitome of Judaism that had rejected Jesus—were not obeying the law.
Paul rebuked the high priest for doing wrong and warned him of the
severe judgment that would fall on him—how God would strike him.
It is quite likely that Paul was here speaking under the power of the
Holy Spirit. You'll remember that in Matthew 10:17 Jesus said to His
disciples,
"Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local
councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be
brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the
Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or
how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will
not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through
you."
Paul was speaking with the authority of Christ. He is on trial—but he
is the one who is fearless. He is the one who is citing the law and
pointing out his accusers disobedience to it. He is the one who is
warning them about the punishment that will fall on them for what they
are doing. He is the one who has authority and power.
Now this is a very important lesson for us. No matter what your
situation, whether you are being mocked, ridiculed or attacked for the
gospel—
Don't be afraid. The gospel has authority that is above all other
authority. Proclaim the gospel truth with authority.
You'll remember just before Jesus ascended into heaven, Jesus said to
His disciples, (Matthew 28:18)
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age."
We go out with Jesus' authority. Go out with confidence, with
boldness. Be absolutely fearless.
The third thing in our passage that shows us Paul's confidence is the
irony in his apology.
J. A. Alexander writes,
"The fashionable sentimental view of this verse is,' that Paul
acknowledges his having spoken in a fit of passion, and apologies for
it."
Alexander goes on to totally dismiss such an understanding. He
writes,
"besides the sheer impossibility of making I wist not (i.e. did not
know) mean I did not consider (or remember at the moment), the
acknowledgment itself would be at variance with all the facts and
circumstances of the case."
How could Paul not know the high priest? Paul is familiar with the
Sanhedrin. Various suggestions have been put forward. One is that the
high priest was not wearing his official robes. It was a hastily
called meeting so they think that Paul did not know he was the high
priest. Others suggest that Paul didn't know who had given the order
to strike him, that his poor eyesight prevented him from seeing who it
was who ordered him to be struck—that he thought he was speaking
against someone other than the high priest. But all such possibilities
are weak.
Paul is not apologizing but is continuing his rebuke. Alexander
writes,
"Another objection to both these solutions is that they suppose Paul's
words to mean, "I did not know him but I know him now,' whereas the
present tense (esti) necessarily implies, that his ignorance, whatever
it might be, still continued. The combination of the past and present
forms can only be explained by understanding him to mean, 'I did not
know (and I do not now know) that he is the High Priest.'"
I believe the best solution, with Augustine, Calvin and Alexander, is
to see irony in Paul's apology, that it is an apology with a sting—
that Paul apologizes but at the same time in effect says, (Calvin)
"I, brethren, I recognize nothing priestly about this man."
Alexander writes,
"Paul means to deny that Ananias was in any such sense High Priest, as
to make him a violator of the law in Exodus."
Although some see this directed at the man, and not the office,
Alexander sees it also directed at the office.
"Paul's denunciation was not meant to terminate upon the individual,
but through him aimed at the entire system, of which he claimed to be
the representative."
Alexander sees Paul as pointing to the lawlessness of their whole
system, that now that Jesus has come, the whole Mosaic system has been
superseded—and that those who are carrying it on are violators of the
law.
As I mentioned earlier, Paul was no chance visitor to Jerusalem. He
was there because of the Spirit. Alexander writes,
"All that is recorded of his acts and sufferings, in his farewell
visit to the Holy City, must be viewed as having an official character
on his part…"
Paul was showing that the high priest, the whole Sanhedrin—were in
violation of the law, and that they were going to be judged by God
because they had rejected God's Messiah.
Christians, as you go forth with the gospel, don't be ashamed of it.
It's the power of God for salvation. It's in accord with the facts of
the universe. It's the truth, the truth that is the fulfillment of the
Old Testament—Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the only
hope of the world.
Lastly, for those of you who aren't Christians—you should understand
that Paul had authority from Christ. So too, the words of Christ that
you have heard today have authority. Embrace Jesus. As Psalm 2 says,
"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for
his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in
him."
Go to Jesus today. Find life in Him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares
about you" (1 Peter 5:7 – NLT).
Be sure to send in your prayer request for the next
mailing.
You are in my thoughts and prayers! May the Lord
continue to bless you with knowledge of Himself.
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Mark Seay
Lighthouse Prayer Line
105 Quincy Drive
Greer, SC 29650
LighthousePrayerLine.org
"'I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and
will make you to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that
are blind, to free captives from prison and to
release from the dungeon those who sit in
darkness'" (Isaiah 42:6-7).
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
Having A Hunger For God
By Pastor Bryant R. Ali
"Jesus answered, 'It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God' " (Matthew 4:4
NIV).
As I embrace the timetable of my healing I am forced to reflect on how
I came to the place of needing to be healed. Was the culture of the
church actually killing me? My journey in the church world has always
been surrounded by food. As a former cocaine addict with an obsessive
compulsive personality. I had never learned the beauty of temperance,
moderation or self control. I came from the BT Express generation "do
it until you are satisfied whatever it is do it'. One of the biggest
myths in Christendom is that every one will be delivered without
facing the consequences of your actions. Galatians 6:9 states that God
is not mocked what ever a person sows that what they shall also reap.
Oh what a shock it was when it came time for me to pay the piper. When
I came out of the streets and returned back to God in 1990 I was 240
pounds and for the last four years I have been hovering around 420
pounds. The concept of clean living was killing me. In reality it was
my failure to embrace healthy alternatives. My good friend Pastor
Henry Clay would always declare to me that we are preaching about how
great God is, yet we are destroying the temples that he has given us.
This is not a post heart attack confession this is a reflection on the
grace of God in spite of me. I could place blame a number of things
but the reality is I did it to myself. I failed in my hunger for the
words of God. Oh yes, I used his words to preach, teach, for personal
devotion, and theological reflection. Yet, I have not seen the
manifestation of the vision, my dreams or the over abundance of souls
running to the throne of grace.My spiritual life was in a recession
and my heart attack was my bailout. Have you ever been guilty of
working for the master, serving the master, and not letting the master
work on you. Public success but a private mess.
Well in 2009 I won't talk about it, I will be about it. I know who I
am and to whom I belong and my goal is to seek first his kingdom and
the healing , weight loss, abundant life and freedom to serve him in
spirit and in truth will follow. I have to not look at other's
vineyards but bloom where I have been planted. As my doctor told my
wife, don't let the church folks feed the bear. Jesus took it a step
further, don't leave by bread alone but by every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God. Just because it is before me doesn't mean I
have to eat it. I hear God saying "Bryant don't live to eat, but eat
to live. My prayer for today is Lord I thirst for you, I long to live
in your presence. My heart seeks after you, Draw me nearer to the
beauty of your holiness. This is my thought for today. Peace.
((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))((¯`»¦«´¯))
We hope you have found today's newsletter encouraging to your
walk with Jesus Christ. Please send all prayer requests and
praise reports to us by using the "comments" hyperlink, which
can be found at the end of each blog/article. God is Good!!!
A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle. Please Keep This
Candle Going!
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"Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances
you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord
forgave you" (Colossians 3:13 - NIV).
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