Acts 4:23-31 ~ Gentiles + † +

Acts 4:23-31

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,
said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’ —


27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.



We have talked about being able to say "God bless you", "I will pray for you" and "Merry Christmas."

We live in a time where one news source says a few weeks back, "Trump was cleared of Russian Interference with USA Voting." Then the next news source says more about Trump and the USA Election. Add to the complications the recent voting IN Russia. We all have strong opinions on a very new Presidential Style. With rather Historic Presidential Approval after President Trump's own Town Hall. Not to be confused with the CNN Town Hall. And then D.C. sit-ins and protesting. We always did this. Rome wasn't the only time soldiers arrived in the Capital. Washington D.C. after the Civil War. And the War for Independence, President Washington dealt with the Whiskey Rebellion. And taxed - himself.

We are arriving at the idea - The United States has a better and dearer Christianity than we Nationally Believed. And really the true idea would be - we Love Jesus. And we consider Him. And know, know, know in our Knower - Jesus helps me and helps you - personally.

Acts 4 is addressing a New Identity in Jesus Christ. Perfect.

We have forgotten something. Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus feeds the thousands in the next breath after hearing His Cousin John the Baptist died. A funeral meal. And we find Jesus prays that night, walks on water - and our Peter - is lifted up out of the water. A good thing. Very immediately a very good thing. The Rock is the Church. We need our Jesus-told-us-in-Caesarea this Church would be born.

Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, does something. He always has a 2nd. He had John the Baptist. Ok, yes, loosely. But then the day after John the Baptist died, Peter is raised up.

If we want to say "God Bless you" we might be further encouraged to have assistance. It's not complicated, this is Biblical. We learn this in one of the few organizations held together for 2,000 Years. With a very, very clear history. The first leading mankind out of huddling in city/state/fortresses. Church - planting outside the city walls deliberately; increasing trade. Promoting communication. Church - the first to feed the starving around the world. On many levels. The first to have hospitals during the-why-help-them-they-are-really-going-to-kill-you plagues. The first to bring aid. The first to bring reading. The first to bring education.

How unfortunate that 2,000 years of amazing Acts of Jesus have been beaten down by this phrase, "The Crusades."

Yes. Human beings. Flawed.

Governments with the same problems are 'history'. Not the Church. Relevant fact. Important. We've seen the United States Northeast leave the Church. And everyone said TK. Instead - better words replaced TK. Forgiveness. Redemption. Restoration. Mercy.

Matthew 11:12

12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

Speaking of Violence. Let's jump right into Netflix. Television is amazingly better. Game of Thrones. Versailles (Princess Elisabeth Charlotte married to Philippe I, Duke of Orleans is a hoot). Medici. Even Borgia. And The Last Kingdom - the rise of Alfred the Great and his real love for Jesus Christ.

And for fun - let's throw in Pirates of the Caribbean. Justified.

Let's be honest. Let's be real. Let's be genuine.

Are we going to head off to Church and talk about what we watch at home. Yes. Tackle the way, the truth and the Life. Handle the difficult topics. We are going to say the Crusades. We are going to look people in the eye and say war is just terrible. Always. And we are not going to say the Church is the center of darkness. When all Nations and all Empires have - FLAWS.

So, let's talk about Revisionist History.
Now I know, you expected me to say something about immorality. So let me not disappoint. Television is amazingly better. And lewd. We can even do better. Especially not watching this with children. Really. Ratings - please fall. For content to be clean.  When I read 3 or 4 of the first Game of Thrones books, I thought this is the most depressing book I have ever read. Evah. And I gave the current set at the time to my friend, Kurt. And I swore up and down I was never going to spend time "watching the most depressing sets of books I'd ever read." Edward watched and every time I passed through the room someone was having some - kind of - sex. I said I don't think the books had that much sex. Edward said they seem to put a lot of sex in it. Yeah. Months and 2 seasons went by. And I began to watch because Edward said it couldn't be missed. And a few others said you have to watch this. And we found we could fast forward. Pretty soon we had to sit down and watch all the seasons. With fast forward. Our fast forward works speedily.

Now, this is what I'm saying -
we discovered as more people were intent on Game of Thrones - we had MORE CONTENT. This is filler. Just like music repeating, "yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah." We all liked Game of Thrones more and more with - more - content. Therefore, because a Nation is watching all of this Television - Let's all decide fast forward works really well and ask for over and over and over and over - surprisingly - More Content.

Back to Revisionist History. And before we get too far into Revisionist History, the next topic is going to be Why Christianity in Hollywood suddenly has two faces.

Revisionist History we have discussed several times has Biblical roots with Jeremiah getting hopping mad the culture was repressing the Exodus and Egypt because they didn't want to admit slavery. Lying about History.

How about the Borgia Family. I am for further historical study done on Historical Subjects. Boring. Oh no, not at all. We can always find political topics repeating and repeating. We don't have to lean on sex. We don't have to erase children for lack of actors. Refer to them. Sex isn't what makes people all that interesting. We have ideas of then and now to look at. To learn.

My son's good friend and former Employer where they had amazing travel all over the world together is the Historical World Leading Authority on Coins of Antiquity. He was telling me about Professors who study nothing but lace to identify the town where the art was made. There are profound histories and politics to learn of. Historical Television Content is worthy.

The Borgia Family. History discovered a ring capable of poisoning people. Therefore we are told this probably belonged to Lucrezia Borgia. I doubt she killed people - she obtained divorces in the 1400s and the early 1500s. Very terrible at the time. She did have a very, very violent and psychopathic killer brother. And if we look at the Borgia's "Official" History we find it's bland enough for school children. Murder went unresolved.. So we have gaps to fill. Letters to be read.

Now - Revisionist History. Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo de Borja, the Bad Borgia Pope. In seeing him legitimize his children. Love them. Acknowledge them. Have basically one wife and a divorce and then another. We are seeing someone when History reexamines him for terrible Christianity - is rather shocked to find he took risks Jesus might be able to say, "And this is Rodrigo." It's worthy of discussion, or maybe, just interesting to find this -

Pope Alexander VI, as he died, convinced many his faith was very devout. When one faces death with calm and assurance - there is Jesus going on.

Pirate of the Caribbean.
"Bible-thumper on this ship?"
"A missionary is the story. What I heard, was he got captured in a raid. The rest on the ship got killed, but not him. First Mate wouldn't let it happen, on account his premier standing with the Lord."
―Jack Sparrow and Scrum concerning Philip Swift


"You are different."
"Different?"
"Are you not? You protect."
―Syrena and Philip Swift

And then the Christian gives up all for a mermaid.


Several of the shows have a Hollywood repeat. It's not gasp with relief, it's to be examined with a not-real-world-c'mon. Face A Thundering Rev. Cotton Mather. Ripe with Finger Pointing. Thundering Sin. And he convinces no one. And then there will be Face B another repeat - the Christian who loves. And Loves.

Face A is a myth these days. It's 18th Century. And for the unchurched - they fear they would hear this. Sad to think. Let it not become typical type content. Doesn't happen. (If it does happen - it's unusual.)



The Bible-thumper who gave up all for the mermaid. The Thundering Cotton Mather. The Christian who loves. We are back to looking for Content... No one comes in good health to a thundering Love of false god Zeus who would strike you down for false god Zeus' pleasure and indifference. No one is going to be blessed if the answer is always roll over for smiley type content. The Peace is Hard Won. It's not a nicey peace. To truly explain Father God, one has to know of the amazing depth of God who loves you as you are.

Routinely, Historically - people have found Joy in having Jesus Christ.

Astonishingly like a Parent. Completely informed as you the real you. Parents sometimes thunder. It's called relationship. But if the parent wants your cringing, your guilt, you star-ship, then you have not discovered Jesus and His Abba.

BUT we will not turn Jesus Christ, Abba, the Holy Spirit and the Amazing Incredible Wonder of God miracle - the Bible - in your hand into - thou shalt not Preach. Every Word of God - is - valid. The God of the Old Testament is the God of the New Testament. The Old Testament is preaching the Ten Commandments. God does not sanction the killing of human beings. Which the false gods do.





If we considered all the potential Children of God as Believers - we should see a St. Augustine. His mother told the party-goer, prostitute-loving, a good evening of wine, "I cannot go to Heaven without you. It would not be Heaven without the unique person you are. You must find Jesus loves you and know His Love."

The closest we can come to telling someone how loved they are in Jesus Christ and His Father to tell them of their virtues, their compassion, their tender moments. Their heart-felt desires of Life. The Light they bring to Life. The Magnificent Forgiveness exists because we Love and Trust this person to display their goodness. We believe with them they are worthy in God's eyes. We believe they should Love our Jesus because our Jesus assures us He lives in their lives now - merely unknown. This is the depth of Love and Forgiveness we need to have explained in our Jesus characters. Not limiting real relationship and real opinion and not assuming there is one opinion. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Why? Because not all can understand a Father's Love. A Son who seeks all His Ministry to find the lost lamb we all have in us. The Holy Spirit who has wanted to live closer - an essence of God - a mystery - a desire of God - some need the glimmer of God to understand first the Presence of our Father God Almighty. Even Father God says between Timothy and Paul Letters that faith is a mystery. We don't have to understand all of the Holy Spirit to allow others to look and find the Beauty and Mystery of God and His Presence in our lives.

We know in the early Church some ran far to bring the Gospel further, but bravely they went with the Word of God, knowing this would be a danger for being killed. We know some stayed and died bravely. Both of these were led by God and brave. We can keep expressing our choices, Honoring Jesus, not accepting that Christians who are too forward - and would put off the hope of God for others. We have no need of, "Oh. look at least one of the Christians looks vaguely Christian." Why? Because being a Christian today requires courage. The screaming zealot - is almost a myth.

When we shake out this all out to the basics, it's like giving seeds Light.

Our Jesus, like our David, would Dance in the Vineyard. With Joy.

Our Father, Abba,

We cover in and all our needs with an urgent plea for "Jesus."

And Your Words to us.

Our Father, Who is in Heaven,
Holy is Your Name
Your Kingdom comes
We want Your will to be done
on earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day,
our Daily Living Bread.

Forgive us our sin,
as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation.
Deliver us from evil.

As John saw,
For thine is the Kingdom,
thine is the Power,
thine is the Glory.

Forever and ever. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Ezekiel 39:21-29 ~ I will set My Glory among the nations + † +

Ezekiel 39:21-29

21 “And I will set my glory among the nations,
and all the nations shall see my judgment that I have executed,
and my hand that I have laid on them.

22 The house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God, from that day forward.

23 And the nations shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity, because they dealt so treacherously with me that I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries, and they all fell by the sword. 24 I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their transgressions, and hid my face from them.

25 “Therefore thus says the Lord God:

Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name.

26 They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, 27 when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations.

28 Then they shall know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land.

I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. 29 And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord God.”

Glory - our God pouring out His Holy Spirit.

When we consider the Creation of God and His Wonders. We find even more wonders as we examine the Wonders of God. Abraham, Abram, was from Ur of the Chaldeans. Genesis 11. When Father God called Abraham to travel to a new Land of Promise - He called Abraham from this, consider Ur, now part of Iran:

We might say Abraham was filled with Vigor and Dreams of making a life with Sarah. God had this Plan!  Incredibly, Abraham is not part of a willing and eager for "Go West, Young Man." Abraham believed God. Abram was 75 Years old. And leaves a well-off family to start as purchasing a small portion of land to dwell in a tent.

Hebron

Vintage 1840

1940

Wonders within Wonders

The Children of Israel complained and complained. Abraham is recorded as being Just and Merciful. Sarah is only have recorded as Laughing once. Best not to in the presence of Angels. She is placed within Mercy by our Father God.

Unimaginable Abraham did not complain.

Abraham had found something greater than his surroundings. He had found Love to sustain him.  Not Sarah, we see this in her being captured by King Abimelek. More within Abraham than beauty externally. More than the comfort of his family's gods. More than the ease of an easy meal. Traveling so far - death was always a risk.


Philippians 4

Wonders of wonders to see the Spirit in Paul to live in Abraham.

9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.


10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.

Abraham is a risk taker, for himself, for Sarah, for Lot. And for unknown men - he argues for their lives with God Himself. Abraham risking all his own life to save Lot - who had left to graze flocks more comfortably and be wealthy. Abraham went up against tribal kings - endangering life forever more.

You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

So Many Contrasts Within God's Wonders

Joseph is thrown into a pit and sold as his brothers have a meal.

The family will raise the flocks and shear the sheep.

Joseph is in Egypt. From having told of a dream. By telling God's Word -  the truth is not always crowd-pleasing. Joseph looked apparently as if he were bragging of His Father's Love. And Joseph is in peril, in flight from his master's wife, in jail.

Trusting God in all circumstances. Even when Pharaoh commands his marriage outside of Joseph's faith.

The Children of Israel have rejected God and watch at least a million and a half people die to Nebuchadnezzar II of the Chaldean and Babylonian Empire. They couldn't even find a Bible in the Temple. Josiah had to clean the Temple to find a Bible (Papyrus, Torah - The Word of God.) Abraham was a Chaldean. There are 3 roundups and March 9, 597 B.C. we find Biblical, historical and archaeological evidence the Children of Israel left Jerusalem from being destroyed.

Millenniums later Archaeology shows Jeremiah's servant stood at the pit of the king of Judah's palace and sealed a document. Jeremiah had invested in Real Estate - a home in Judah/Israel as he knew war and devastation had advanced for 70 years.

Men of faith
                       believe God
                                              in incredible adverse circumstance.

And the Children of Israel  Exiles find Babylon to be nourished and well watered between two rivers listed as running through Eden.

In the middle of unbelief, God shows the Children of Israel - the abundance of His Creation. The riches of His Glory. Offering these slaves the comfort of Nebuchadnezzar's interest in their faith. Giving Ezekiel a home by the Kebar River.  A home after - war and annihilation. Giving them the freedom of assembly on their Sabbath.

From seeing 1.5 million people slaughtered, walking 1,000 miles. Psalm 91 Only people of faith would live. Only a Spirit of Hope in God would have them continue. A faith of God in forces unseen.


Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place-- the Most High, who is my refuge--
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.
14 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."


God did not care for the ways of Nebuchadnezzar II and his ego. The Prophets told Nebuchadnezzar II of the coming desert. No one believed the lush lands of Babylon would change. God fulfills His Word.

Nebuchadnezzar - flawed and cast down. Would see - like Hezekiah - future trouble; Nebuchadnezzar would prophesy the end of his own royal line. And God had held his place - to bring Nebuchadnezzar back to the gifts of God - God had graciously given Nebuchadnezzar. Can we even fathom the idea in a world of sweeping violence, war, devastation loss of home, family in bloody horrible ways - our God would save a heathen kingdom while Nebuchadnezzar suffered being the literal dog for 7 years. Daniel prophetically and bravely told the Emperor of the Chaldean and Babylonian Empire the news of God putting Nebuchadnezzar aside for 7 years. Does the Bible tell us of the broken line and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar - yes. Babylonian history explains during the illness of Nebuchadnezzar, his daughter Nitocris would do unimaginable works, expanding Nebuchadnezzar's Kingdom in amazing projects during his illness. Her husband would be the one who saw the writing on the wall. The Babylonian and Biblical histories are so close in this history they finish each other's stories. Like a husband and wife.

It's frankly incredible. A wonder within God's wonders.

God's Story never, ever ends with desert.

The children of Israel were told they were going not to an arid climate, but to the land of Milk and Honey. Today. Yes. 2,000 years later Israel is the land of milk and honey. The Arch of Titus in Rome had a firm tradition - Jews would not walk under the destroyer's arch. May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion, the head of the Jewish Agency, proclaimed the establishment of the State of Israel. U.S. President Harry S. Truman recognized the new nation on the same day. Winston Churchhill the same.

May 14, 1948, Titus is not Proclaimed, instead, in our lifetime,  we have Israel. Not for 2 Millenniums - Israel. Today Israel Lives. The Jews of Europe came to walk under the Triumph of Emperor Titus.

When does March happen in May?

Only once in 2, 000 years. May 14, 1948. Jews marched through the Arch of Titus. Thousands of Jews.

What was before - has happened again. Israel lives.

In an incredibly harsh world.

A man arrived, not owning but a small plot of land.

And he argued the life of men he had never met in his relationship with the Creator of the Universe.


Abraham Believed God.

The Light of Jesus Christ Continues to Shine. In His Beloved.


John 1

Believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God,
who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,
but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son
from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

Abba, Father God,

3 Millenniums later, we are blessed to know the good heart You loved in Abraham.

Increase Your Holy Spirit within us. That each day as we do Your Will, we will have the Love and Joy Abraham displays in most of his ways. We would ask You for Your mercy and grace each day as the Beloved of Jesus.

Lifting up good health and improvement.
Giving You, Father God our heart, cries and delights.
Trusting You with the lives, path and future of the one's we Love.

Rejoicing in the Goodness of Your Creation, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Asking for more of Your Holy Spirit not just in our lives, but encouraging Your nations to Trust You. And in Your Great Love and Delight in us, knowing the Goodness of Your Future You will Willingly bless us with.

Being Covered in the Name of Jesus, We ask Your Blessing. Amen.