Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Not exactly gods... (Acts 14, Isaiah 43:18-19, Romans 10:17)


"The Bible has all sorts of wisdom for us"
I took this photo in New York City
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.


Acts Chapter 14

1 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. 3 Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
Iconium was in Asia, today it would be Turkey.  Interesting, because I've heard there were many Christian artifacts in Turkey : )

4 But the multitude of the city was divided:  part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. 5 And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. 7 And they were preaching the gospel there.

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. 9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. 11 Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
This would be a big nightmare for the Apostles.  Jesus is the final sacrifice.  So being called greek gods and offering to make sacrifices would be the wrong answer to their preaching.  They were filled with the Holy Spirit so if it's anything like what I've experienced they would've been able to say what the Lord wanted them to.

The closest I've ever come to this was when I was designing web sites.  I had to go upstairs and talk to one of the managers about the site.  As I walked through the cubicles the guys started bowing to the ground saying, "I'm not worthy."  Hahaha I told them not to bow down to me because I'm a Christian and we can't have that.  They told me they couldn't believe what I did on the web.  I then earned the title, "Web Chick."  I haven't had many nicknames so I thought it was great : )  

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out 15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, 16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.” 18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
It sounds like the people were even more anxious to worship the apostles after they explained the truth.  Sometimes we all just don't get it... do we?  

19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
Paul must've still been alive. The Lord knew it wasn't his time to die.  Derbe was a city in the district of Lycaonia in the Roman province of Galatia in south central Asia Minor. 


18 “Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert."
(Isaiah 43:18-19 NKJV)
I love these verses.  It describes what happened to Paul.  He could've given up but he kept going.  For me, it helps me stop thinking about the bad stuff in my past and focus on new things.  Even the hurts from last week can be forgiven when I dwell on God's point of view.  Wonder what new things will come up for us. Faith in Jesus is the start of a great adventure.   Each of us will be tasked with new things.

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
I'm so glad they got some encouragement.  I've had many bad days and have always found encouragement from reading the Bible.  I have a wooden box of favorite Bible verses I've written down on index cards, so in case I need some hope I can pull them out and remember the truth.

Sharing Bible verses is a great way to help others understand how to be a Christian.  I used to walk with a good friend at lunch, when I was working.  I'd share a verse I'd just learned with her and she'd ask questions.  Then one day she called to tell me she became a Christian.  


17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17 NIV)

27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
(Acts 14:1-28 NKJV)
I can just imagine the stories, laughter and surprises.  Just think we'll be hanging out with the Apostles in Heaven one day.

Heavenly Father,
I thank and praise You for the gift of forgetting and forgiving.  It's hard for us to let go of past mistakes.  Thank You for the many adventures I've been able to experience. Help us to forgive ourselves and others as You have forgiven us.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit who gives us words to say, and helps us understand the Bible.  As we share our faith with others.

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

(Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV)

In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Here's a song from the Newsboys, Glorious (link)

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Our High Priest (Acts 13:35-52, Psalms 42:1-2, Hebrews 7:25-28)

"Looking forward to spending time at God's throne"
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

Sorry I've been gone for awhile.  I missed doing my blog and studying the Bible online.   We did get to see a lot of family which is always good.  I left off in Acts 13.  Paul is teaching Jews and Gentiles about God.

35 So it is also stated elsewhere:
“‘You will not let your holy one see decay. ’
This is referring to Jesus.  Jesus didn't decay in the tomb as the Pharisees and Sadducees had hoped.  Instead He rose from the grave and walked among men.  

36 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed.  37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
David was a great man of God.  When I read all he had been through, only God could've protected and helped him.  The first king was Saul.  God originally wanted Himself to be the king.  But, the people asked for a man.  They wanted a handsome man that they could be proud of.  Instead they got Saul...  He was handsome, but not all that concerned with God's will.  Verses 36-37 describe how only Jesus rose from the dead and his body didn't decay.

25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Hebrews 7:25-28 NIV
Once, when my husband was sick, I remembered that Jesus is praying at the throne of God for us, it's written in Revelation.  So I asked Jesus to heal my husband and He did : )  Sometimes He says, "Yes."  And sometimes He says, "Wait."  Jesus doesn't have to give sacrifices to please God, He is God.  One of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit all are one.  His death on the cross was once and for all.  The final sacrifice.

38 “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you:

41 “‘Look, you scoffers,
wonder and perish,
for I am going to do something in your days
that you would never believe,
even if someone told you. ’”

42 As Paul and Barnabas were leaving the synagogue, the people invited them to speak further about these things on the next Sabbath. 43 When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
To understand the importance of this is to understand how old the Jewish nation is.  Israel was one of the first nations on earth.  So there would've been Jews who were caught up in performing ceremonies from their past.  One ceremony was to sacrifice a lamb pouring it's blood to save people from their sin.  Here Paul is telling them to accept Jesus' sacrifice and believe in His salvation.  The Holy Spirit must've been present to interpret all that was being said.  So how did they react?

44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy. They began to contradict what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on him.
They became angry that anyone would defile the scriptures.  Probably tore their robes.  They used to do that when they wanted to demonstrate how angry they were.  Can't you just hear the wives, "Oh honey I wish you'd quit tearing your robes, it's a lot of work to fix them."  We're way more civilized now, we honk our car horns...

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.

47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:  “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. ’”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.
Yay!  The Gentiles accepted God's Word and Jesus as their Savior.

49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God- fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 

So they gave up and quit...  No not Paul and Barnabas!
51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 13:13-52 NIV)

Heavenly Father,
I thank and praise You for never giving up on us.  You are so much more holy than I am. Because of Jesus sacrifice even I can approach Your throne one day.  Some of these Bible stories make me wonder why people didn't just give up.  But You always provided a way for them.  Guide us too Father, help us stay on the right path.  Thank You for the Holy Spirit who gives us words to say, and helps us understand the Bible.  Thank You for all the candidates that want to be our President in the USA.  I pray You will guide us with wisdom and truth as we select the next President.  

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

(Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV)
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Here's a song from Big Daddy Weave, The Only Name (link)