Acts 26 ~ I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today

 

Paul before Agrippa, by Nikolai Bodarevsky

Acts 26

26 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: 2 “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

4 “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5 They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

9 “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11 Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

12 “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13 About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14 We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

15 “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. 16 ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. 21 That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Jesus Christ is the same

Yesterday

and

Today

and 

Forever

And this is Good News. Because?

John 16:33

 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! 

I have overcome the world"

Acts 26

The mud and accusations fly 

like Today

The patterns of life repeat and repeat in the Scriptures.  Paul discusses eternal truths. Agrippa isn't moved, he is set for life in the repeat patterns of his decades.  Agrippa knows Scripture. Pharisees and Saducees. Time in and time out. Easy to decide.

Agrippa has listened to many teachers interpret the Bible. AI interprets the Bible. Social Media interprets the Bible verses into vague niceties. Verses interpret the Bible. I interpret the Bible

In Relationship with the Lord God Almighty giving us His Son.  

We must read all the Scriptures for ourselves.  

The Scriptures says God gives Gifts.  And only Jesus can fulfill every dot and iota in His Word.  

Know the Scripture, Know the Power of God.

When one set of people bare the burden for seasons and cultures.  This nation..... blah, blah, blah.  These sets of "American comforts" blah, blah, blah. The repeat of Leningrad. Nazis with their new morality and USSR with throwing out the Church. This isn't a problem of this generation! It is a problem of the pendulum of the world! Kings and Chronicles show us cultural problems and generational problems exist. The Seed Parables explain problems. ETERNAL. 

The Clarity of God's Word is ETERNAL.

Jesus Christ is the same

Yesterday

and

Today

and 

Forever

Usually, we all have the same complaints in life.  

And some days we feel angry.  

And want to blame and jump all over the next person.

But the main category for overcoming anger? Faith the Lord sorts all the the things beyond us. Hope the Lord will sort us out. Love God has for us and one another.

And overcoming? 

Finding real reasons to find Gratitude. 

Today Edward and I walked and in the early spring, we could see the grass was responding to the warmth and light of springtime. And in the grass, were the pine needles the winter had shed. To see the colors and textures was beautiful. We stopped our walk and looked at the beauty of earth God brings us. To have eyesight. To appreciate the warmer weather.

I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today

And back to Acts 26.  Agrippa doesn't like Paul having a clear vision of God. Agrippa likes the comfort of Pharisee not appreciating Sadducees.  Paul hopes to give Agrippa more of God. And Agrippa doesn't want another idea of God.

How will this turn out?  

Not the way Agrippa thinks. Agrippa is headed off to Rome in war as a prisoner of war.  And his sister is going to run after Caesar. Not what Agrippa thinks.   Agrippa is actually going to write letters about meeting Paul.  Paul isn't going to write about letters and letters of meeting Agrippa.  Correspondence with Josephus the Judean general turned Roman historian. 

How will this turn out? 

Perfectly. God's Plan for History, for today and for tomorrow will work out perfectly.

How? 

God is bringing more of His good will to His good creation and more Heaven will be seen upon earth.

And who will be happiest?  

Eternally, this is a big set of problems. Oh no, who is happiest.

Does God want us to be 

Happy. 

Yes, Virginia. God wants life to offer us happiness. 

God of Love. God of encouragment. Isn't out to make us ashamed or miserable or alone.

How would we know? MOSES. Moses spoke Directly to God. 

JESUS. Jesus said we are to know this trouble is Overcome.

DAVID. David was so impressed with Moses wanting happiness, David included Moses prayer in Psalm 90.

Psalm 90

Prayer of Moses

So teach us to number our days

    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13 Return, O Lord! How long?

   

 Have pity on your servants!

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,

    that we may rejoice 

and 

be glad 

all 

our days.

15 Make us glad 

for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 Let your work be shown to your servants,

    and your glorious power to their children.

17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

    and establish the work of our hands upon us;

    yes, establish the work of our hands!

Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen Amen

in JESUS CHRIST!

David's Palace found outside the walls

as the Scriptures wrote.

c. 2005 A.D.

Psalm 16:11: 

In Your Presence is fullness of joy

And the architects and archaeologists

drew David's Palace

used until Jeremiah and Nebuchadnezzar

lived the Plan of God

c. 1843 Queen Victoria

wanted to make sure the forests

holding the 
Cedars of Lebanon 

(having build the Temple of Jerusalem twice)

would be part of God's Good Creation again

and 

she replanted Lebanon with these giants.

c. 1843 Prince Albert wanted his family

to be godly and love one another

and 

he built them their own family home.

And Prince Albert's home

looked remarkably like the Palace of David 

(not found at the time)

Queen Victoria, not realizing this, added on.

Psalm 144

May our sons in their youth

    be like plants full grown,

our daughters like corner pillars

    cut for the structure of a palace;

13 may our granaries be full,

    providing all kinds of produce;

may our sheep bring forth thousands

    and ten thousands in our fields;

14 may our cattle be heavy with young,

    suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;

may there be no cry of distress in our streets!

15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!

    Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord!

Psalm 37:37

Mark the blameless and behold the upright,

    for there is a future 

for the man of peace.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters,

 whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Blessed is the man

    who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

    nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

his delight is in the law of the Lord,

    and

 on His Law he meditates day and night

Abba, Father!

John 15:3

Abide in

God's Love

I consider myself fortunate 

to stand before you today

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well, 

in 

Jesus Christ. 

Father,

Help us 

to speak sincerely,

mercifully

Lovingly

Help us seek and find 

and bring,

to become,

 more Heaven

to this earth.

Thank You

for

our first grandbaby

Arriving this summer,

All Your Love

Blessings upon

this little one.

And in Jesus - This Hope.

Faith and Love - we will rise up Believing Jesus.

Thank You, Father.

Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus The Lord

† 

Matthew 16:18 ~ on this rock, I will build My Church †

Today, I'm talking about building a Cathedral.

And let's think of the correlation to...

Building our lives every day to please the Lord.

And we are God's Temple. I'm not saying to literally build a Cathedral. I am saying where we worship is our souls. Where The Lord God Almighty is tender to us.  I'm saying all Churches should want to put forth their talent making worship important. This Post is saying all forms of buildings hold The Holy Spirit. 

 

So suppose you wanted to play the National Favorite Pastime 

of Build Your Cathedral.

First, you'd want to get all your fish in a row.

This photo, and the one of "The Lord Heals" is from Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas

Where my mother was not going to survive, and hospice arrived. 

Due to God's Plan, soon my mom went to exercise and the grocery store and complained about the price of dry cleaning and got an ice cream cone. 

Thank You, Father God.






A Church is a sacred thing. 

We feel the Holiness and Goodness of Father God - Who would run to His prodigal child - me. You. And we are welcomed into His Warmth.  Warmth. This is a good and joyous thing, worthy of all of mankind to be received!  A fire within you. Warmth of Hearth and Home.

Today, I'm talking about a Cathedral.

And let's think of the correlation to...

Building our lives every day to please the Lord.

I loved the novel  "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. Seeing the goodness rise up of monasteries who had lifelong joy, satisfaction, and Jesus Christ feeding, 'beering', educating, loving the community and finally, beginning, hospitals when plague arrived. And building Cathedrals over centuries. I truly enjoyed - This Book. And getting the picture of how hard life was when 1/3 rd's of England starved to death under serfdom - realities of the true work of Christ set in. Valor of hard work and daily being part of communal life. Willing to do weeding, wedding, scrubbing, enduring communal rivalries, death from germs, forgiveness, wisdom and Love. No wonder Jesus loved vineyards.

Church is a very, very sacred thing of God.







Ok. Great. Bam. Cathedrals are works of God and take Centuries.

 And in the journey - can turn into works of Herod for the wrong reason. Popular and trendy to bash the empty Cathedrals of Europe. Forget - that. Cathedrals are for understanding the Beauty and Sacred Honor of Housing God. A glimpse of Heaven. A work of mankind to Honor God.

(PS 

Herod built the Royal Stoa and this was the infamous Money Changers Building Jesus threw out the people with whips from the of the 36 Acre Temple. Constantine and his beloved mother, 80-year-old, archaeologist seek was sent out,  Helena. {Constantine ended up giving his very elaborate tomb to his beloved mother to be seen today.} Then the First Vatican was an exact replica of the Royal Stoa. Om, oops? 4th Century until 16th Century. The Vatican of today designed by dream team architects: Donato Bramante (Renaissance master), Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno (Father of Baroque Architecture) and Gian Lorenzo Bernini (leading sculptor), well considered the holiest church in Christendom. From Pope Julius in 1506 to 1615.)










 Let's Do That. Honor God.




Jesus being God, took His Disciples to Caesarea to see all the Roman buildings Herod had built to please his master, Caesar. It was inspired to explain where Jesus would build the Church none of the Disciples knew would exist.

Matthew 16:18

On this rock I will build My Church, 

and the gates of Hades 

will not prevail against it

Dome of the Rock

Mount Moriah, meaning the chosen of Jehovah. This is where the Sacred Rock Abraham and Isaac were rescued by God.

John 1:1 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Acts 2:38 

And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized 

every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and 

you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Luke 9:23-24

And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it."

Luke 11:3 

Give us each day our daily bread

Psalm 68:19 

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; 

God is our salvation. 

Selah

Ephesians 2:8 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. 

And this is not your own doing; 

it is the gift of God

Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

1 John 2:3

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, 

if we keep His commandments

Psalm 16:11

 

You make known to me the path of life; 

in your presence there is fullness of joy; 

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

And the Rock above Peter enabled his bones not to decay. 80 feet below the Vatican altar of both Vatican 1st Building - 4th Century to 16th and Vatican 2nd Building - 16th Century to today. The Bones tell us Peter was about 5' 6" tall, a bit plump, 62 years old and feet removed from his crucifixion cross.






Now let's consider Heaven.

When we really study Revelation, we are seeing something history did not see. 

This view of His Throne seemed sort of 'way out'.  Revelation,  we see God doing the inhalation of our prayers through smoke. Streams of Living Water. Emerald Green and Red. We find God is showing all of His Wisdom and Inspiration of Much Higher Thought. Almost scientific. Very Tree of Life and nature oriented.


And when we see Ephesians 2 

we find families live in Heaven. And we live 'many will sit down at the table of Abraham and Isaac'. We are seeing Moses, Elijah and Jesus live together. The centuries are going to find a path to live together. The Bronze Age meets Hubble Telescope.

We will see Cathedrals have a Wonderful, Wonderful Place.

What if you could build a Cathedral???

We need our Cathedral to be available. Daily.


We will start at the top. Jesus Christ and His gift to Father God - a new Heaven. And the Lord's Prayer - bringing more Heaven to earth. Some practicality.

Steeple. Yes. Look Up. 

God's Way. Jesus. High enough to bring encouragement for the people who pass by and are praying with Jesus.

Lift High the Cross! The Cross of Jesus Christ Hymn!
May Jesus Christ dwell in our Hearts 

with His Love and Grace.

The Cathedral will bring in Nature. God's Good Creation.


And just a photo idea of what I'm thinking about:

Glass and magnificent windows in the Foyer:

And, remember, available and practical :)

Becoming a little more like this:

Where was Jesus born?!!!

We see the top again:

What are the beams? . Lighted, I'd hope.

And the floor? I guess we'd go with a white limestone. Like the Rock.



Light of the World?

Very gentle and merciful. Too much color is not stained glass and is overwhelming.

A Light filled Cathedral. 

The brilliant colors told to us of Heaven and the walls. 

The parking lot? 

Definitely a golf cart tram. Long rides? So much the better! Chatty Charlie or Chattie Cathy creates Fellows in a Ship. Fellowship.

And surrounding?

The Beauty of God's Earth.

The grounds are Vineyard and Trees and Rocks and Water. 

Pleasing to Jesus who loved to sail, to walk and to greet His People.


The rest? Here is the Cathedral, Here is the Steeple. All we need are God's People!!!


In all seriousness, there are so many styles and ideas. We just cannot do all 3,000 pages of God's Word. This is the Light of one thought.

Most Churches are very, very Beautiful.

Just as paintings in a museum differ one from another - we would be utterly, utterly remiss not to Glorify God for His Goodness in His Bride - The Church. Be blessed with this idea from just me.

God's People coming to His Table to Worship Jesus Christ 

Psalm 23

Surely goodness and mercy

are my footprints

all my days

Abba, Father!

Dwell in me,

Dwell in us,

Dwell in those we Love,

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well, 

in Jesus Christ. 

Help us seek and find 

and bring,

to become,

 more Heaven

to this earth.

Thank You

for

our first grandbaby

Arriving this summer,

All Your Love

Blessings upon

this little one.

And in Jesus - This Hope.

Faith and Love - we will rise up Believing Jesus.

Thank You, Father.

Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes, The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You, Jesus The Lord

†