Acts 5:12-26 ~ Look! †

 When the opportunity comes to speak for Jesus and the Word of God, do we take the opportunity when it is distinctly uncomfortable?

Yes, I guess so. This week has been a week of discomfort for all of us. And yet, the Scriptures relate to the day and have something to say. Similarities are present, but not the exact, same thing.

After Jesus died, The Temple was filled with the multitudes. Thanks to Josephus, we know adding up the Sacrifices Josephus' accounting gives, the multitude in The Temple of Jerusalem was 2 million people.

Acts 5:12-26 ~ Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

Painting, by Tadema

Acts 5:12-26

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.


Even in the Syrian suburb, the little country of Judea, the Roman Empire flooded vast fortunes into the country. In the plentiful abundance of life, Pontius Pilate regularly had riots with the Jews.

A Rabbi from Lycantra was extremely upset to see all this. He feared. He is an eyewitness beyond the Gospels and Josephus to the First Easter.

The United States Congress is 16.5 Acres. A big building. 

The population of the world in 2021 is 7.8 Billion People.

On the first Easter, 2 million people took over the Temple. 33 A.D., The Second Temple, a massive project of Herod surrounding a building interior coating of Gold, had been being improved upon for 75  intense years of construction. The Temple wasn't ever really closed, but you can bet they had areas marked off with ropes and would only have loved to have known about large plastic, orange cones.

 At the Time of the First Easter, The Temple of Jerusalem was 36 Acres.

The Population of the world in 33 AD was 230,882, 000. 

Below, the Temple, The Royal Portico and the Hulda Gate are 36 acres. The drawing points out the surrounding buildings.

Temple Mount is and was Massive.

Psalm 118

24 This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

25 Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success! 

Is 36 Acres rather a guess? No. Not at all.

Is there really an Indiana Jones? Charles Warren handled the actual Jack the Ripper case with the best tools England had. He was invited to do something very unusual. To climb under the Temple archaeology, see what was intact and report on the Gates.

The Survey of Western Palestine /Excavation of the 2nd Temple  of Jerusalem
by Col. Sir Charles Warren, K.C.M.G., R.E.,
and
Capt. Claude Reigner Conder, R.E.
The Committe of the Palestine Exploration Fund, Inc
1, Adam Street, Adelphi, London, WC., England, 1884.

Below is a published report by Warren of actually doing the measuring of The Second Temple.

In the Blue  Link Provided.

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Psalm 118 ~ This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous

Can you imagine yourselves being a rioter? 

Once, at the age of 6, joined all my neighborhood children help tear down a lovely home being carefully constructed over an empty lot with a creek. We had enjoyed the lot, with huge Willow trees and large rocks. It was always shady, and you would always meet more kids seeking relief from the Texas summer. A day of Protest and at the age of 6 years old, we were looters and rioters. As we all carried home a chunk of the building materials, I told this group of little kids, teenagers and tweens, we'd had fun. We should do more things together. Everyone agreed. Maybe softball.

The builders of the home hired a guard to protect the property; my three other six-year-old friends and I became very good friends with the kindly, elderly man. After a few weeks, the man asked us did we know who had looted. All 3 little blond heads said no. The man explained to us that it was wrong, and it had been an expensive vandalism. I went home to discuss it with my mother.

She said she didn't remember  the board I had dragged home, didn't I put it back. I said yes, we didn't really have a need for a board. Actually, one of the teenagers helped me unload the wood by taking it off my hands.  She asked me how many teenagers had been involved, and I said every kid in the neighborhood had been there. She said something to the effect she knew teenagers were behind it all. I said not really, everyone showed up, for something to do.

Adults were told to look in their backyard for building materials. Some materials returned. It never happened again, even later when more houses were built. A lot of the building material was just gone.

This was parents willing to talk to other parents. It took some frank discussions.

Later, in college I dated someone from my childhood neighborhood. I found out a man asked teenagers to work for him. My date told me the theft from our garage was this man and his hired teenagers. The almost theft of our boat was this man and his teenagers. They had tried to hire my date, who had a very wise father and escaped. This man had put together the day at the house. He wasn't for protests, he was a thief, and he was a ruin to teenagers. Not every unplanned event is innocent. 

We have to be diligent and not swept up into wrong.

Really. Wrong is going to try to press us. Don't go there.

After Hurricane Ike, in Houston, grocery stores opened for minute time frames in the morning. HEB allowed shoppers to go in, in groups of 18 shoppers. If you'd seen the mayhem in the stores before the Hurricane, you'd understand why. So, every day, the electricity was off in town, Edward, my husband, would head over to HEB. Then on the third morning, a police cruiser showed up as the forty or so people waited for the store to open. The police car opened the mike and said, "HEB was unable to open this morning." People were a little surprised and looked at the police car in astonishment. No one said a word. So, the Police car repeated the message and said it was time to disperse. After a moment's pause, the humorous police said, "Time to disperse, we think you all will riot." The very dangerous suburban engineer types looked at each other in frank astonishment. One man looked at the others and said, "I'm Not Rioting! Are you?"

Are we interested in the multitudes who flooded the Temple?

A model of Solomon's Portico, from the First Temple until the Second Temple fell 70 A.D. And the back corner is Antonia Fortress, Herod's Fortress complete with jail.

Many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles

 

 

Surely, the Temple officials, the bureaucracy were stunned. So much so - they let the rabble in to the Temple discussing Jesus. Worshiping Jesus.

Can you imagine this? It's frankly incredible, but accurate. The Temple officials let the followers of Jesus Christ the LORD, meet in the Temple grounds. They had signs up saying foreigners would be killed beyond certain points.

"No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade and embankment around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows." Both Greek (above and there are 2 Greek signs discovered) and Latin versions of this warning were posted at regular intervals (around the balustrade). The engraved block of limestone is about 22 inches high by 33 inches long. Each letter was nearly 1 1/2 inches high and originally painted with red ink against the white limestone. Part of another sign was unearthed in 1936. Currently, located in the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul, Turkey. It is a fairly well-known and understood archaeological find, labeled CIJ 2.1400

Rather more obscure is CIJ 2.1404 The Theodotus Inscription. Not all the Second (or First) Temple is completely understood. 75 centimeters long.

The Theodotus inscription (CIJ 2.1404) was discovered in a Jerusalem cistern by R. Weill in 1913. It dates to the first century AD prior to the Temple's destruction. Significantly, the inscription reveals that three generations of priests served as the "rulers of the synagogue" (archisynagôgoi - the Greek word) mentioned in the dedication. Translation:

Theodotus, (son) of Vettenus, priest and
archisynagôgos, son of an archisynagôgos,
grandson of an archisynagôgos, built
the synagogue for the reading of the law and
the teaching of the commandments, and
the guest-chamber and the rooms and the
water installations for lodging for those needing them
from abroad, which his fathers, the elders
and Simonides founded

And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 

During the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

"Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.”

 Light of Jesus Christ - Shine. We Need You.

Abba, Father God,

Before You all desires are known and no secrets are hid.

Cleanse the thoughts of our heart

in the Glory of Jesus Christ and His Highest Name.

In His Righteousness, the prayers of the Righteous Availeth Much.

This New Year of 2021, Father God, it is effortless to give in to concerns.

And when I have concerns, my peace is to tell You, I'm worried, and I'm going to stay worried

until Peace decides to arrive. Sometimes not suppressing anxiety gives us permission just to be a little worried. And we feel better than putting jumping spring snakes back into the peanut can.

We will probably overcome a lot of our fears this year.

And some will ease out in time.

Historically, Father God, after Pandemic

people have strident emotions and don't bother with logic.

Speak calm to the wind and waves.

We all know You will Speak Peace again.

Dwell in me, Father God,

Help me to see more Heaven on earth

and be more Heaven on earth.

And in Joy of Your Strength, to seek You First.

Help us to See More Heaven by Seeing our Blessings,

We have a Vaccine, Covid will be leaving.

The Holidays are now part of the past and the time to have less Covid may arrive soon.

We can be diligent again, in our safety, with far less weariness.

We have fewer Holiday related things to do and can pray more.

Believing Like Corrie Ten Baum, we are in the Hands of our Loving Father.

We can choose Joy and we can choose Prayer.

We can fully recognize Pandemic brings out the worst in brains, and have Mercy and

more diligent intelligence.

We can renew our ideas and thoughts and not be told.

We can be grateful.

Psalm 105

Look to the Lord and His strength;

seek His face always.

5 Remember the wonders he has done,

his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,

6 you his servants, the descendants of Abraham,

his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.

And Heaven and earth rejoice, and Heaven and earth Rejoice.

Oh Heaven and Heaven and Heaven and earth Rejoice.

Father God Fill us with Your Love

Let the Holy Spirit Work in Us.

Bless those we Love with Your Light and Life.

Jesus the Only Son of His Father.

Abba, Father God,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so

through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you harmony

with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may

glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Jesus Christ,

The Ark of the Covenant is Within

Father God, Dwell within us and

those we Love.

Jesus help us in this Nation to be in Your Word and more Joyful.

Covered in God's Love,

President Donald Trump

Vice President Mike Pence

The Presidential Team

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Deborah Birx

and their families.

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

Today and always Senator Tim Scott,

The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

For Elliott and HIS continued Healing, to avoid this virus and

his loving family praying and helping him and Harby.

We believe Elliott is healed.

We pray for Dee and Wayne and their Kristy and David.

Father, the Truth, the Way and the Life for our Nation we pray.

We continue to pray for the Safety of All the Nation.

Thank You for rain and cooler temperatures on the Gulf of Mexico for us all.

Please continue to bless us. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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Mark 16:1-8 ~ they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away

Mark 16:1-8

¹ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb ³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. ⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 

⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” 

⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

 
Jesus had gone on.  The Good News would go forth.

By the Will of God.

For 4 centuries, the fragile papyrus of Scripture would be destroyed. Today, we can go to the store and just purchase a Bible - something many people have died to bring us.

Lives were allowed to be sacrificed,  for many more to hear the saving hope in Jesus' Love.

Because Jesus died for us. And our faith in Him, is so important. We have this list.

 The Roman Colosseum was build by the gold from the destruction of Jerusalem and The Temple of God in 81 A. D.

When Jesus died, Claudius was Emperor of Rome. It was Claudius who imprisoned Paul, the first time. In the remote, far away country of Judea, the name of Jesus Christ and His promises and His Word, created unease for Claudius. Imagine this could occur in the time there were no mass methods of communication. It is historical fact. 16 years after the death of Jesus. Claudius has gone from prominence to being an enigma in history.

Jesus Christ has gone forth.

Claudius – Imprisoned Christians. Reigned 25 -54 AD. Emperor during the death and resurrection of Jesus. Imprisoned Paul, for his first imprisonment, house arrest.

Covid has had a year of upheaval, fear, boredom, worry, anger. We are good and tired of this virus. So much so the vaccine seems to not roll out fast enough with over 350 Million people.

We have had Political Rivalries in the News for a decade. We are tired of all the Daily Damage Reports.

This is a year we have all felt has been dictated to us.

We have the opportunity for a New Year.  New and renewed efforts, hopes and dreams. A change in direction. 

We have One of the Strongest Nations in the world in our best effort available - Prayer. With God on our side, what can't we do? The Word of God describes our prayers move the Hands of God.

Josephus set out to find a new life having been a General for Judea. Josephus changed his place in the world and became the Historian for 3  Roman Emperors. And Josephus records witnessing the Christians for Jesus. Recording Jesus has lived and His followers do not scatter.  This isn't debated historically.  Jewish Roman Josephus is debated if he actually called Jesus Messiah. The first eyewitness isn't debated.

We would have to get out the Roman Emperor chart to find some less known names to find out who Josephus worked for. When his real moment is describing Jesus.

We always have plans, God decides. We don't have to face the future with fear.  Circumstances always change. We put our Future in God's Hands. We put our Trust in Jesus Christ.

And in Unity, this Nation faces a challenge. One Nation of Republicans, Independents and even Democrats have concerns regarding the Vote. National Polls say 80% of Republicans, 26% of independents and 20% of Democrats fear the Vote wasn't counted or checked following the Law of the Legislatures governing the Nation. And this is worthy of our prayers. And this is the time and the season to pray for the Republic to have the Freedom of the Vote.

God tells us He told Ahaz, Father to King Hezekiah just one time His Son would be born to a Virgin. We don't have to badger and pester God like a corrupt Judge (The Word of God tells us we sometimes think of as God Himself). We merely pray and trust God to bring forth His Word and His Will, only one time is needed. God Himself tells us the anger of man, does not bring forth the Righteousness of God.

Jesus faced a Centurion and prayed for the man's servant to be healed. Jesus didn't divide along national or political lines. Jesus Heals us all. We all, reading this Post, want the True Strength of God in our Republic. God is Love and God is, frankly, Beautiful. 

Jesus tells us in faith, even in Pandemic planet year,  we believe the Light of Jesus shines in us all.

Abba, Holy Spirit

To be Blessed to be asked to have more Heaven on earth.

Jesus dwell in us and those we love

and we will see more Heaven on earth 

and be more Heaven on earth.

To seek You first, 

Thanking the President and Trump Administration for all their work.
The First set Vaccinated.

We Pray for the Republic and the Legal Vote.

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

Today, and always, Senator Tim Scott,
Our Nation to heal and be united.

The end of trouble surrounding this Virus.

The Research done on the Vaccine.

For Elliott with God's continued Healing, to avoid this virus and

his loving family praying and helping him and Harby.

We believe Elliott is healed.

We pray the healing of Dee and Wayne and their daughter and son-in-law.

Father, the Truth, the Way and the Life for our ALL our Nation we pray.

We continue to pray for the Safety of All the Nations.

UK and South Africa.

The Mercy of Jesus Christ Upon Us. 

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †

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Isaiah 27:5-6 ~ shall Blossom

January 6, 2021

Epiphany

Today we heard about the problems of Washington DC.

Boarded up all summer, with plenty of plywood.

Yes, this is true. Yet, also reported was the people who turned up every day to scrub off the graffiti.

And do we see, the Capital is quiet tonight. 

Business is conducted. People feel free to express their opinions. And remember September 26th how many people turned up to pray.

In The Woodlands, Texas outside of Houston, Texas we gathered with about 18 Christian Churches in January 2011. For 30 days, we met to fast, to pray for the area. We heard of the problems people don't typically speak of. I met people in the Foyer of the Church I remembered and encountered a decade later. We touched one another and felt the Heart of God and His Mercy. One of the young men was born completely blind, I witnessed him walk with a cane, this year because part of his vision is there for the first time in his life. He has enough sight to have mobility. I met women who told me of their blessings to have been married and remember their spouse and see a decade later, they have their joy.

Later in 2011, we had a tri-county fire with intense fear. 

Three counties in our area began to burn down starting on Labor Day. We had firefighters from British Columbia, the East Coast. We were the most burning part of all 50 states. All over the counties, we were trying to donate cream and lip balm and loose clothing to the volunteer refuge centers, but the roads and the placing kept changing because fire would cause the people to move quickly. Sometimes fire cut us off from donating. So, the Fire Department began taking donations at every center to help get the goods across the changing fire lines.

What happened to all those Prayers?

And then, oddly, the news began to report almost miraculously the houses didn't burn down. Sadly, Acreage was lost. Abundant Forest Beauty was lost. But every time a fire threatened to consume a house, the firefighters would converge and were amazed to find the wind would change and the house would be left intact without too much of a fire. So many, many, many pictures of buildings with scorch marks and left totally intact.

So many emotions during the fire from all three counties. And it wasn't until it was over, the news reports added up how many families and homes were still intact. The Ones who loved you yesterday, love you today. The Strength of the Holy Spirit.

Father God giving us the True Salvation in Jesus Christ.

The Scripture repeats Victories over and over. Challenges and plain, bad, old troubles. Overcoming

and Victory.

Hang in there with Father God.

Billy Graham used to say, "I've read the last page of the Bible, and it's going to turn out all right." 

Speaking of Billy Graham.  In February 2018, Billy Graham had led this Nation to know Jesus better. To believe the Promises of God. When Billy Graham died in 2018, we had 6 Presidents alive. More than 6 Vice-Presidents alive. Most were retired with their day to plan. More freedom. All had called on Billy Graham to pray with them in difficult times. A few travelled to see Billy Graham, Quite a few wanted him to travel to meet them. And only one of this elaborate list, made the time to go to the Funeral of Billy Graham. The one who had the most difficulties of these Presidents in 2020. Yes, the lone attendee had plenty of items to accomplish on his schedule and wasn't going to forget Billy Graham. President Donald Trump. He also travelled to Rome to meet Pope Francis.  

I'd say those Prayers Saturday, September 26, 2020 have come into the Fullness of God.

Isaiah 27:5-6

5 Or let them lay hold of my protection,

let them make peace with me,

let them make peace with me.”

6 In days to come Jacob shall take root,

Israel shall blossom 

and put forth shoots

and 

fill the whole world with fruit.

1 Timothy 6:18 

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, 

to be generous and ready to share

Isaiah 41:10 

Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, 

for I am thy God; 

I will strengthen thee;

 yea, I will help thee; yea,

I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Epiphany

Isaiah 60

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, 

but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 

Nations will come to your light, and kings 

to the brightness of your dawn."

John 1:16 
From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Abba, Father God

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God of All Comfort

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 

He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace 

as you trust in Him, 

so, you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We will be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, 

ALL may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, 

 He called you through His gospel, 

we may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We ask in the Highest Name of Jesus to abound in the Holy Spirit and see Your wonders flow in us and Dwell.

Jesus into those we Love and the people You have given us.

And in seeking You first, we are blessed

and find more Heaven on earth

and encourage more Heaven in our lives.

Let us be bringers of Your Goodness.

 Dwell in us. Help us in the Framework You've Given. And Bless those we Love. 

Help us to be always pleasing to You.

Bless our Nation with Your Mercy and help. 

Bless our communities, Churches, work places and culture. 

Blessing the earth in Jesus.

Jesus help, Covered in God's Love,

To have our Elections Secure for our Children.

President Donald Trump and his family

Vice President Mike Pence

The Presidential Team

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, Dr. Deborah Birx

And their families.

Governor Abbott and all 50 Governors and Legislatures.

Today, and always, Senator Tim Scott,
Our Nation to heal and ALL be united.

The end of trouble surrounding this wretched brain Virus.

Thank You for the Vaccine.

For Elliott with God's continued Healing, to avoid this virus.

Their loving family praying and helping him and Harby.

We believe Elliott will be healed.

We pray for Dee and Wayne and their daughter and son-in-law with Covid. 

Thank You for their strong voices and prayerful hearts.

Father, the Truth, the Way and the Life for our Nation we pray.

We continue to pray for the Safety of All the Nation.

In Your Mercy, let us be pleasing to You. 

Please let our Nation not continue in Integrity for All.

The Mercy of Jesus Christ Upon Us. Amen!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

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