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| "Looking forward to spending time at God's throne"
© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.
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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.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.
Hebrews 7:25-28 NIV
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)
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